Moving to El Salvador from Switzerland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Switzerland to El Salvador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Salvador averages 87°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
59

people born in Switzerland live in El Salvador · UN DESA

Who's moving to El Salvador?

Top countries of origin for El Salvador's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in El Salvador compared to Switzerland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CH
0.5
SV
7.8
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CH
72%
SV
38%

Switzerland performs 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

CH
$10,602
SV
$1,176
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CH
44.4
SV
15.5

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CH
10.0
SV
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CH
3.7t
SV
1.5t

Switzerland generally does better on environment, though El Salvador leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CH
47.1
SV
10.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CH
6.5%
SV
13.2%

Switzerland performs 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

CH
4.0%
SV
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CH
$82,900
SV
$11,300

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CH
83.2 yrs
SV
75.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CH
3.6
SV
12.1

Switzerland performs better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.

Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bern San Salvador
Jan–Mar 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 88°/68°F (31°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) 86°/67°F (30°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) 86°/65°F (30°/18°C)
View all months
Month Bern San Salvador
Jan 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C)
Mar 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C)
Apr 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C)
Jun 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C)
Jul 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C)
Aug 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C)
Sep 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C)
Oct 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C)
Nov 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C)
Dec 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C)

Data: MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, Gerencia de Meteorología Gerencia de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.

Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Free
Switzerland passport holders can enter El Salvador without a visa.
El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Free
El Salvador passport holders can enter Switzerland 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 El Salvador?

Connectivity is usually fine (El Salvador: 10.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does El Salvador offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is El Salvador safe for expats?

Switzerland performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in El Salvador is 7.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland. About 38% of people in El Salvador feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in El Salvador compared to Switzerland?

Switzerland 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 44.4 in Switzerland. El Salvador scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).

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

The average high temperature in San Salvador is 87°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. San Salvador receives around 70.0 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.

What language do they speak in El Salvador?

The official language in El Salvador is Spanish. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.

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At a Glance

CH SV
Population 8,508,698 6,568,745
Currency Swiss Franc (CHF) Salvadoran Colón (SVC)
Languages French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +41 +503
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911