Expat Community > El Salvador

pato23
Joined 2002
Posts: 765

Relocating el Salvador & Central America?

16 years ago

Anyone wishing to relocate to El Salvador or any other Central American country for that matter remember that moving, even in your home country, is the most stressful thing next to a death in family or of close friend, relocting to a foreign country, especially if you are not familiar with the local language AND slang, cultural differences and history of the country/region is doubly stressful. El Salvador is densly populated, with pockets of marginalized areas in city and poverty in some rural areas, there are security issues, and those persons wishing to locate in upscale city neighborhoods who speak or understand little Spanish, expect high prices. Driving in San Salvador is also very very stressful. El Salvador is not a place for the faint at heart. If your spouse or family is not Salvadorian you shall often have to depend on services of bilingual persons, most usually more expensive. One should visit the country and region well before considering a move. Best resource to start for citizens of USA is the Embassy Website with several web links in English and or Spanish 'El Salvador Websites' http://sansalvador.usembassy.gov/eng/irc/svlinks.html
UK no longer maintains a consulate in El Salvador, Canada..maís oui...http://geo.international.gc.ca/latin-america/elsalvador/ also most EU countries are represented here, after arrival, join a church or organization, volunteer if you have time, make contacts and friends and always remember Spanish is the offical language spoken, not English. These days if someone e mails me especially with a "handle" or no name and town for assitance relocating, I usually delete that e mail or ignore that post. After arrival if you should like to meet for coffee and ask advices, no hay problema, advice is cheap.
PS El Salvador uses the USD legal tender, prices of bsics, food, rent, propane, services rising as USD falls factor this in... Use your head, not your "insticts", if you are qualified (and hopefully bi lingual) and do land a job here, salaries are low in El Salvador compared to US/Can/EU standards. Rents are generally lower, but high in "upscale" San Salvador areas..I live in a nice middle/working "class" Colonia, by the way there is very lttle racism in El Salvador but you shall have to deal with classism in this society, much of Latin America as well. And one last piece of advice...there is a big difference between "friendly" persons and friends. Be aware. Keep a low profile, keep smiling and if you are an attractive female, expect local males to gawk and whistle at you. Cultural. Not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. 'Fijese que...'

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

Living in El Salvador Guide

From the best beach towns to buying property, expats in El Salvador offer advice for expats and people moving to El Salvador.

El Salvador Forum
Join our El Salvador forum to meet other expats and talk about living in El Salvador.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in El Salvador.

Best Places to Live in El Salvador

If you're dreaming about living in El Salvador, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in El Salvador in 2023.

49 Expats Talk about Healthcare & Health Insurance in El Salvador

Expats living in El Salvador talk about their own experiences with healthcare, hospital visits, emergencies, finding a doctor, buying health insurance in El Salvador and more.

Cost of Living in El Salvador

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in El Salvador.

Moving to El Salvador Guide

Our guide to moving to El Salvador with lots of advice from expats on the ground.

Real Estate in El Salvador

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in El Salvador.

Pros & Cons of Living in El Salvador

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in El Salvador.

Retiring in El Salvador

Advice for people retiring in El Salvador.

10 Tips for Living in El Salvador

If you've recently arrived in El Salvador, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in El Salvador.

Additional Information:

Visit our El Salvador Index for a Full List

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

SJB Global

SJB Global is a top-rated financial advisory firm specializing in expat financial advice worldwide, offering retirement planning & tax-efficient solutions with a regressive fee model.
Learn More

Contribute
Help others in El Salvador by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in El Salvador.

Login

Or, Send Login Link

Expat Community > El Salvador

Relocating el Salvador & Central America?

Login