Moving to El Salvador from Canada

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Canada to El Salvador? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Canada to El Salvador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Salvador averages 87°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Canada to El Salvador.

Living there in 2020
248 ↑ 1% vs 2015

people born in Canada live in El Salvador · UN DESA

Who's moving to El Salvador?

Top countries of origin for El Salvador's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in El Salvador compared to Canada.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CA
2.3
SV
7.8
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CA
88%
SV
38%

Canada performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CA
$7,646
SV
$1,176
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CA
25.0
SV
15.5

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CA
8.0
SV
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CA
14.0t
SV
1.5t

Canada generally does better on environment, though El Salvador leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CA
42.6
SV
10.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CA
3.7%
SV
13.2%

Canada performs better than El Salvador across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
5.4%
SV
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$55,800
SV
$11,300

Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though El Salvador leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CA
83.8 yrs
SV
75.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CA
4.4
SV
12.1

Canada performs better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.

Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

San Salvador Rain: 70.0 in/yr (1777 mm)
87° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ottawa San Salvador
Jan–Mar 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) 88°/68°F (31°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 86°/67°F (30°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 86°/65°F (30°/18°C)
View all months
Month Ottawa San Salvador
Jan 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C)
Feb 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C)
Mar 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C)
Apr 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C)
May 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C)
Jun 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C)
Jul 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C)
Aug 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C)
Sep 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C)
Oct 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C)
Nov 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C)

Data: Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada, Gerencia de Meteorología Gerencia de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and El Salvador. To live, work, or study long-term in El Salvador, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check El Salvador's immigration authority.

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter El Salvador without a visa.
El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
El Salvador passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from El Salvador?

Connectivity is usually fine (El Salvador: 10.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does El Salvador offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is El Salvador safe for expats?

Canada performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in El Salvador is 7.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada. About 38% of people in El Salvador feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in El Salvador compared to Canada?

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.5 doctors per 10,000 people in El Salvador, compared to 25.0 in Canada. El Salvador scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).

What's the weather like in El Salvador compared to Canada?

The average high temperature in San Salvador is 87°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. San Salvador receives around 70.0 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.

What language do they speak in El Salvador?

The official language in El Salvador is Spanish. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.

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At a Glance

CA SV
Population 38,232,593 6,568,745
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$) Salvadoran Colón (SVC)
Languages English, French Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +503
Time zones 6 1
Emergency number 911 911