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The cost of the basic food basket rose again in april 2026 in both urban and rural areas, although the increase was more pronounced in urban areas, according to data from the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR). The figures reflect that salvadoran families had to allocate more money to cover essential food products during the fourth month of the year.
According to the BCR, in urban areas the monthly cost per family increased from US$254.64 in march to US$256.70 in april 2026. The increase was US$2.06 per month, equivalent to a variation of 0.81%.
According to official data, the products that increased the most in price in april within the urban food basket were meat, vegetables, and tortillas. Increases were also reported in fluid milk and sugar, although to a lesser extent.
In rural areas, the trend was similar, although the increase was less pronounced. The monthly cost per family rose from US$185.45 in March to US$186.10 in april 2026. This represented an increase of US$0.64, equivalent to 0.35%.
In this sector, the products that saw the largest price increases were tortillas, meats, and fats. Fluid milk also showed price increases, while some foods, such as beans, registered slight decreases.
The comparison between the two sectors demonstrates that the basic food basket not only continues to be more expensive in urban areas but also experienced a more rapid increase during april. While urban families pay an additional US$2.06 per month, rural families spent US$0.64 more.
In percentage terms, the urban increase of 0.81% was more than double that recorded in rural areas, which reached 0.35%. This reflects that the pressure on food prices hit urban households harder.
Data from the Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) shows that the increase was concentrated mainly in basic daily consumption products, especially tortillas, meat, and vegetables—essential elements in the diets of salvadoran families.
The trend observed in april confirms that the cost of food continued to rise during the beginning of the second quarter of 2026. Although the monthly increases were moderate, the rise continues to impact family budgets, especially in urban areas, where the adjustment was more pronounced.
April ended with a more expensive basic food basket in both urban and rural areas. However, the price increase was greater in urban areas, where increases in meat, vegetables, and tortillas put more pressure on family spending, while in rural areas the increase was smaller, although persistent.
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