Moving to El Salvador from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to El Salvador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Salvador averages 87°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
91 ↑ 1% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom 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

How United Kingdom 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

GB
1.0
SV
7.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
SV
21.5

United Kingdom performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
SV
$1,176
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
SV
15.5

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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

GB
13.0
SV
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
SV
1.5t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
SV
10.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
SV
13.2%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
SV
2.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
SV
$11,300

United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though El Salvador leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
SV
75.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
SV
12.1

United Kingdom performs better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London San Salvador
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 89°/64°F (32°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 88°/68°F (31°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 86°/67°F (30°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 86°/65°F (30°/18°C)
View all months
Month London San Salvador
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Gerencia de Meteorología Gerencia de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting El Salvador

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

El Salvador passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
El Salvador passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.

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 United Kingdom and El Salvador.

Is El Salvador safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in El Salvador is 7.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in El Salvador compared to United Kingdom?

El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.5 doctors per 10,000 people in El Salvador, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. El Salvador scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

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

The average high temperature in San Salvador is 87°F, compared to 60°F in London. San Salvador receives around 70.0 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in El Salvador?

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

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At a Glance

GB SV
Population 67,791,400 6,568,745
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Salvadoran Colón (SVC)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +503
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 911