Moving to El Salvador from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to El Salvador — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to El Salvador, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — San Salvador averages 87°F vs 66°F in Washington, 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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to El Salvador, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to El Salvador.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
United States 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
El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States 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
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though El Salvador leads in water stress level.
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
United States 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
United States performs better than El Salvador across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | San Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 88°/68°F (31°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | San Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.9°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 90°/64°F (32.0°/17.6°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 91°/65°F (32.7°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 91°/68°F (32.7°/19.8°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 88°/69°F (31.1°/20.4°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 87°/67°F (30.3°/19.5°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 87°/67°F (30.4°/19.7°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.6°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 85°/67°F (29.5°/19.4°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 86°/65°F (29.9°/18.4°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 86°/63°F (30.1°/17.4°C) |
National Weather Service
Gerencia de MeteorologíaVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 States passport holder visiting El Salvador
Visa Free
El Salvador passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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?
Internet is rarely the blocker — El Salvador has 10.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is El Salvador safe for expats?
United States performs better than El Salvador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in El Salvador is 7.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 38% of people in El Salvador feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in El Salvador compared to United States?
El Salvador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.5 doctors per 10,000 people in El Salvador, compared to 36.1 in United States. El Salvador scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in El Salvador compared to United States?
The average high temperature in San Salvador is 87°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. San Salvador receives around 70.0 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in El Salvador?
The official language in El Salvador is Spanish. In United States, the official language is English.
