San Salvador: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador, and about 1.8 million people live in its metropolitan area, almost a third of the country. The city lies in a valley by a volcano, an hour from Pacific beaches. El Salvador has changed sharply in recent years: after a state of exception was introduced in March 2022, the murder rate fell many times over, and the capital went from one of the most dangerous to one of the calmest in the region. The country's currency is the US dollar.

Who it suits: investors and holders of crypto capital, surfers and remote workers, people who want Central America with the dollar and low prices. Who it does not suit: those who need developed infrastructure, an international community and predictable laws.

Districts: where newcomers settle

• Escalón and San Benito - upmarket areas with restaurants, embassies and hotels.
• Santa Elena and Antiguo Cuscatlán - gated complexes, malls and the US embassy nearby.
• Santa Tecla - a neighbouring town, calmer and cheaper.
• The historic centre - renovated squares and the cathedral; foreigners rarely choose to live there yet.
• La Libertad coast - surf villages an hour away, where many keep a second home.

Cost of living

• One-bedroom flat in a good area - roughly $600-1,000 a month, more in gated complexes.
• Groceries and cafés - inexpensive, especially local food.
• Car - almost essential, as public transport is weak.
• Electricity - a noticeable cost because of air conditioning.

Paying in US dollars makes life simple: there is no currency risk for dollar income.

Practicalities: transport, climate, language, money

• Climate. Tropical: +25-32 all year, rainy season from May to October.
• Transport. Ride-hailing taxis and new roads to the airport and the coast.
• Language. Spanish; English is not widely spoken.
• Money. US dollar. Bitcoin was legal tender from 2021, but since 2025 amendments accepting it has been voluntary.

Moving and legal status

• Temporary residence - for retirees and people with income from abroad, contract workers, investors and spouses of citizens.
• Programme for large investors - a $1,000,000 contribution in bitcoin or a dollar stablecoin, no more than 1,000 participants a year, residence and a fast track to a passport. More in El Salvador citizenship by investment.
• Documents - police certificates, civil certificates and proof of income, apostilled and translated into Spanish.

We check entry requirements for Russian citizens on the date of travel.

Security in 2025-2026

• The state of exception has been in force since March 2022 and keeps being extended: tens of thousands of arrests, and the streets have become much calmer.
• The other side - human rights groups criticise mass detentions and restricted rights, and police may check documents.
• Everyday risks - petty theft and road accidents remain; at night it is better to travel by taxi.

Work and business

• Where foreigners work - remotely for foreign companies, in tourism, real estate and crypto projects.
• Your own business - companies are registered in the commercial registry; corporate and income tax go up to 30%.
• Crypto-assets - providers of bitcoin and stablecoin services are under separate regulation and licensing.

Family: schools and healthcare

• Schools - several private bilingual schools with an American curriculum in Santa Elena and Escalón.
• Healthcare - private hospitals in the capital are of a decent standard; complex treatment often means flying to the US.
• Leisure - volcanoes, Lake Ilopango and beaches an hour away.

First steps after moving

1. Residence application - to the migration service with apostilled documents and translations.
2. Bank account - with a residence document; source-of-funds checks are mandatory, especially for crypto-assets.
3. Housing - rentals in gated complexes, usually on a one-year lease.
4. Phone - a local SIM card against a passport.

The city and weekends

• San Salvador Volcano - a national park with a crater right above the city, half an hour by car.
• Lake Coatepeque - a crater lake with waterfront houses, about an hour away.
• Ruta de las Flores - mountain towns with coffee farms, about two hours away.
• Joya de Cerén - an ancient Maya village under volcanic ash, a World Heritage site.
• The coast - the surf villages of El Tunco and El Zonte, seafood restaurants and sunsets.

Crypto and banks

• Bitcoin remains legal in El Salvador, but since 2025 businesses are not required to accept it, and the state has scaled back its crypto projects under an agreement with international lenders.
• Banks - operate in dollars and ask for detailed source-of-funds proof for crypto-derived money.
• Crypto service providers - operate under licences; choose them after checking registration.

Is it worth living here

San Salvador has become a safe and affordable city with the dollar, beaches nearby and openness to crypto investors. The downsides are a small international community, heat, weak transport and political unpredictability. Moving makes sense for investors and those who want to live by the ocean with dollar costs.