Moving to New Zealand from El Salvador

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from El Salvador to New Zealand, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 87°F in San Salvador, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
6 ↓ 50% vs 2022

people moved from El Salvador to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to New Zealand?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to El Salvador.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SV
7.8
NZ
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SV
21.5
NZ
6.6

New Zealand performs significantly 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

SV
$1,176
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SV
15.5
NZ
35.7

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SV
1.5t
NZ
6.0t

El Salvador generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SV
10.6
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SV
13.2%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand performs significantly 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

SV
2.8%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SV
$11,300
NZ
$48,800

El Salvador generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SV
75.4 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SV
12.1
NZ
3.4

New Zealand performs significantly better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Salvador Wellington
Jan–Mar 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/68°F (31°/20°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month San Salvador Wellington
Jan 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: Gerencia de Meteorología Gerencia de Meteorología, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting New Zealand

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

New Zealand passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Free
New Zealand 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 New Zealand?

Connectivity is usually fine (New Zealand: 35.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does New Zealand offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is New Zealand safe for expats?

New Zealand performs significantly better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.8 in El Salvador.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to El Salvador?

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 15.5 in El Salvador. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (El Salvador: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 87°F in San Salvador. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while San Salvador gets 70.0 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In El Salvador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

SV NZ
Population 6,568,745 5,053,004
Currency Salvadoran Colón (SVC) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages Spanish English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +503 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 911 111