Moving to El Salvador from Timor-Leste

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Timor-Leste to El Salvador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Timor-Leste and El Salvador stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

TL
4.1
SV
7.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TL
12.0
SV
21.5

Timor-Leste 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

TL
$461
SV
$1,176
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TL
7.7
SV
15.5

Timor-Leste 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

TL
61.0
SV
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TL
0.5t
SV
1.5t

Timor-Leste generally does better on environment, though El Salvador 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

TL
0.0
SV
10.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TL
28.3%
SV
13.2%

El Salvador performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TL
1.5%
SV
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TL
$4,600
SV
$11,300

El Salvador generally does better on employment & economy, though Timor-Leste leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TL
69.9 yrs
SV
75.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TL
33.7
SV
12.1

El Salvador generally does better on family life, though Timor-Leste leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste 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.

Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting El Salvador

Visa Required
Timor-Leste passport holders need a visa to enter El Salvador.
El Salvador passport

El Salvador passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
El Salvador passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.

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?

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 Timor-Leste and El Salvador.

Is El Salvador safe for expats?

Timor-Leste performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in El Salvador is 7.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.1 in Timor-Leste.

How is healthcare in El Salvador compared to Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though El Salvador leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.5 doctors per 10,000 people in El Salvador, compared to 7.7 in Timor-Leste. El Salvador scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).

What language do they speak in El Salvador?

The official language in El Salvador is Spanish. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.

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At a Glance

TL SV
Population 1,445,006 6,568,745
Currency United States Dollar ($) Salvadoran Colón (SVC)
Languages Portuguese, Tetum Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +670 +503
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911