Moving to El Salvador from Iceland
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iceland to El Salvador — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Iceland to El Salvador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Salvador averages 87°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to El Salvador
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
Key Indicator Comparison
How Iceland and El Salvador stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Iceland generally does better on environment, though El Salvador leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Iceland performs better than El Salvador across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though El Salvador leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Iceland performs better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.
Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | San Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 88°/68°F (31°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | San Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Gerencia de Meteorología
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and El Salvador. To live, work, or study long-term in El Salvador, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check El Salvador's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting El Salvador
Visa Free
El Salvador passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from El Salvador?
With 10.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, El Salvador can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Iceland and El Salvador.
Is El Salvador safe for expats?
Iceland performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in El Salvador is 7.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 38% of people in El Salvador feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in El Salvador compared to Iceland?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.5 doctors per 10,000 people in El Salvador, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. El Salvador scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in El Salvador compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in San Salvador is 87°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. San Salvador receives around 70.0 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in El Salvador?
The official language in El Salvador is Spanish. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
