Moving to Puerto Rico from El Salvador

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from El Salvador to Puerto Rico — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from El Salvador to Puerto Rico.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Puerto Rico

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from El Salvador to Puerto Rico, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
130 ↓ 85% vs 2015

people born in El Salvador live in Puerto Rico · UN DESA

Who's moving to Puerto Rico?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How El Salvador and Puerto Rico stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SV
7.9
PR
14.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SV
21.5
PR
12.5

El Salvador generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

SV
32.2%
PR
42.4%
Suicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support

SV
7.6
PR
5.4

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SV
1.5t
PR
4.8t

El Salvador performs better than Puerto Rico 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
PR
28.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SV
12.1%
PR
19.5%

Puerto Rico generally does better on infrastructure, though El Salvador 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%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SV
$5,767
PR
$40,620

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SV
72.3 yrs
PR
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SV
8.8
PR
6.0

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021–2022), Ministry of Finance (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

With 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Puerto Rico can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in El Salvador and Puerto Rico.

Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?

El Salvador generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.9 in El Salvador.

How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to El Salvador?

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

Share this

At a Glance

SV PR
Population 6,365,503 3,184,835
Currency Salvadoran Colón (SVC) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Spanish English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +503 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 —