dinero_admin 
The cost of the basic basket in El Salvador registered a moderate increase during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to data from the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador. At the family level, monthly spending in the urban area went from a range of US$246.6–US$248.2 in 2025 to between US$250.8–US$254.64 in 2026, which represents an increase of between US$4 and close to US$6.4 per month. In rural areas, the cost rose from US$180–US$181 to between US$183–US$185, equivalent to an increase of US$2 to US$5 per month.
This behavior is explained by monthly variations within each quarter. In 2025, the urban basket remained in an approximate range of US$246.6 in january, US$247.4 in february and US$248.2 in march, while in 2026 it progressively rose to US$250.8 in january, US$252.9 in february and US$254.64 in march. In the rural area, the behavior was similar: in 2025 it ranged between US$180 in january, US$180.5 in february and US$181 in march, while in 2026 it increased to US$183 in january, US$184 in february and US$185 in march.
At an individual level, the daily cost per person also reflected this increase, going from US$2,004 to US$2,053 (+2.43%) in the urban area and from US$1,278 to US$1,309 (+2.43%) in the rural area, a percentage that remains unchanged, since it comes from quarterly averages.
In relation to the basic basket, the behavior of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows which products directly influenced this increase. Among the main factors that pushed the cost up are lunch (+0.20%), omelette (+0.15%), housing rental (+0.10%), chicken egg (+0.08%) and breakfast (+0.08%), all linked to daily consumption.
Some products helped partially contain the increase, such as potatoes (-0.18%), propane gas (-0.05%) and avocado (-0.03%), although with less weight within the food basket.
When detailing the specific products, it is observed that the largest increases were concentrated in essential foods. In the urban area, vegetables registered the greatest increase with +12.38%, followed by fluid milk (+6.96%), meats (+2.85%), fats (+2.26%) and tortillas (+3.81%). In contrast, products such as french bread (-4.43%), rice (-1.04%), fruits (-1.31%) and beans (-0.86%) showed reductions or stability.
In the rural area, the variations were similar: tortillas increased +3.81%, fluid milk +7.04%, meats +2.85% and fats +2.26%, while rice (-1.03%), fruits (-1.51%) and beans (-0.88%) presented slight decreases. Sugar remained practically unchanged in both baskets.
Overall, the data reflects that the increase in the basic basket in the first quarter of 2026 responds to increases in key daily consumption products, with a more notable impact on urban households, although within a trend of moderate growth.
You can also read:
