As of November 12, 2026, Ecuador is cheaper than El Salvador for travelers: a mid-range day costs about $71 in Ecuador against $77 in El Salvador, a gap of 7.5%. Over the past year Ecuador has moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor (+1.6% after inflation, against +1.1%). El Salvador carries the lower US advisory (Level 1 against Level 2).
| Measure | Ecuador | El Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $71 | $77 |
| Lean day | $33 | $36 |
| Comfortable day | $163 | $164 |
| Real change, 12 months | +1.6% | +1.1% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Versus 5-year average | +7.0% | +4.8% |
| US advisory | Level 2 · Increased caution | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 3.5 · Workable | 3.3 · Workable |
| Index score | 66 | 68 |
| Best months | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| Shoulder months | May, Oct, Nov | May, Oct |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
Andes, Amazon and the Galápagos in a country the size of Colorado.
The catchSecurity deteriorated sharply on the coast after 2023; several provinces carry higher advisories. The highlands are calmer.
The fastest safety turnaround in the hemisphere, and a surf coast priced in dollars.
The catchDollarized, so no currency upside for dollar earners. The security gains came with a prolonged state of emergency.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.