Moving to Bolivia from El Salvador

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from El Salvador to Bolivia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from El Salvador to Bolivia.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from El Salvador to Bolivia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
140 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in El Salvador live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from El Salvador to Bolivia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SV
7.9
BO
4.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

SV
38%
BO
59%

Bolivia performs significantly better than El Salvador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SV
$1,176
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

SV
16.2
BO
12.8

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador 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

SV
31.0
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SV
1.5t
BO
2.3t

El Salvador performs better than Bolivia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SV
12.5
BO
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SV
12.1%
BO
0.2%

El Salvador generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SV
3.3%
BO
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SV
$5,767
BO
$5,148

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SV
72.3 yrs
BO
68.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SV
8.8
BO
14.2

El Salvador generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance (2016), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
El Salvador passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bolivia.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting El Salvador

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bolivia has 12.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Bolivia safe for expats?

Bolivia performs significantly better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.9 in El Salvador. About 59% of people in Bolivia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to El Salvador?

Bolivia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 16.2 in El Salvador. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (El Salvador: 78).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In El Salvador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

SV BO
Population 6,365,503 12,581,843
Currency Salvadoran Colón (SVC) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Spanish Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +503 +591
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 110