Cost of living comparison

compared to

Malabo vs. San Salvador Cost of Living Summary

Malabo is 45.1% cheaper than San Salvador.

Restaurants
pay 8.2% more in Malabo
Groceries
pay 3.6% less in Malabo
Transportation
pay 0.7% less in Malabo
Housing
pay 70.9% less in Malabo
Childcare
pay 92.8% less in Malabo
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.8% more in Malabo

The cost of restaurants and entertainment and sports in Malabo are more expensive than in San Salvador. Expenses including childcare, housing, groceries, and transportation are lower in Malabo.

Malabo vs. San Salvador Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Malabo instead of San Salvador, you would:

pay 8.2% more for restaurants

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $6.75
SVC59.06
$8.54
FCFA4,983
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.00
SVC61.25
$8.54
FCFA4,983
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.14
SVC10.01
$0.85
FCFA498

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pay 3.6% less for groceries

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Bread
1 loaf
$2.85
SVC24.94
??
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.85
SVC33.72
$3.37
FCFA1,966
Milk (1 gallon) $6.95
SVC60.81
$10.34
FCFA6,036

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pay 0.7% less for transportation

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.75
SVC41.60
??
Monthly public transit pass $37.50
SVC328.13
$26.40
FCFA15,411
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $25,000.00
SVC219K
$33,056.06
FCFA19M

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pay 70.9% less for housing

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$42.50
SVC371.88
??
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $898.99
SVC7,866.27
??
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $770.00
SVC6,737.58
$223.95
FCFA131K

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pay 92.8% less for childcare

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $162.67
SVC1,423.35
??
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $4,720.00
SVC41,300.50
$341.40
FCFA199K

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pay 7.8% more for entertainment and sports

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.00
SVC17.50
$1.71
FCFA997
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.55
SVC31.02
$4.69
FCFA2,741
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.00
SVC35.00
$4.52
FCFA2,639

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pay (unknown) more for clothing

 
San Salvador
Malabo
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$67.15
SVC587.57
??
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$47.00
SVC411.25
??
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$118.33
SVC1,035.43
??

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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