A. M. 
The cost of the basic food basket in El Salvador registered a year-on-year increase in january 2026, in both urban and rural areas, reflecting sustained pressure on household spending.
According to data from the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR), the urban basic food basket rose from US$246.64 in january 2025 to US$250.82 in january 2026, representing an increase of approximately US$4.18, equivalent to a year-on-year rise of nearly 1.7%.
In rural areas, the cost also showed a change, rising from US$179.96 in january 2025 to US$183.27 in january 2026, an increase of US$3.31, equivalent to approximately 1.8% more compared to the same month of the previous year.
This upward trend is mainly attributed to price variations in products such as staple grains, dairy products, meats, and vegetables, whichhave a significant impact on the consumption patterns of salvadoran families.
From an economic perspective, the year-on-year increase implies greater pressure on household disposable income, especially in sectors where the minimum wage has remained unchanged. While the increases are not abrupt, they reflect a trend that directly impacts purchasing power.
Analysts point out that factors such as logistics costs, weather conditions, and international food prices continue to influence the dynamics of basic necessities. Monitoring the basic food basket is one of the main indicators for measuring food inflation and assessing the impact of the cost of living on the population.
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