Moving to United States from El Salvador

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from El Salvador to United States, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 87°F in San Salvador, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
27,280 ↓ 10% vs 2022

people moved from El Salvador to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How El Salvador and United States stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SV
7.8
US
6.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

SV
38%
US
63%

United States 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
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SV
15.5
US
36.1

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SV
1.5t
US
13.6t

El Salvador generally does better on environment, though United States 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
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SV
13.2%
US
28.2%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SV
2.8%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SV
$11,300
US
$73,600

El Salvador generally does better on employment & economy, though United States 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
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SV
12.1
US
5.2

United States 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

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months San Salvador Washington
Jan–Mar 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/68°F (31°/20°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month San Salvador Washington
Jan 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Gerencia de Meteorología Gerencia de Meteorología, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting United States

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

United States passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Free
United States 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 United States?

With 37.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United States 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 United States.

Is United States safe for expats?

United States performs significantly better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.8 in El Salvador. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in United States compared to El Salvador?

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 15.5 in El Salvador. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (El Salvador: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 87°F in San Salvador. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while San Salvador gets 70.0 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In El Salvador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

SV US
Population 6,568,745 337,341,954
Currency Salvadoran Colón (SVC) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Spanish English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +503 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 911 911