Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from El Salvador

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from El Salvador to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from El Salvador to Sao Tome and Principe.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SV
7.9
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SV
21.5
ST
11.7

Sao Tome and Principe 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
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

SV
16.2
ST
4.6

Sao Tome and Principe 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
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SV
1.5t
ST
0.6t

El Salvador generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SV
12.5
ST
3.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SV
12.1%
ST
1.9%

El Salvador generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe 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%
ST
9.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SV
$5,767
ST
$4,084

El Salvador performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SV
72.3 yrs
ST
69.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SV
8.8
ST
9.2

El Salvador generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
El Salvador passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Free
Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sao Tome and Principe has 3.0 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 Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe performs significantly better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.9 in El Salvador.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to El Salvador?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 16.2 in El Salvador. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (El Salvador: 78).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In El Salvador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

SV ST
Population 6,365,503 240,254
Currency Salvadoran Colón (SVC) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages Spanish Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +503 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 —