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Living

Living in El Salvador.

Residency routes, what a month actually costs, how banking works, and the paperwork nobody warns you about. This is journalism, not legal advice — but it will save you two months of guessing.

The living guides

Eleven pages on moving here, staying here and dealing with the state.

01

Cost of living in El Salvador

Real cost-of-living figures for El Salvador — rent, groceries, healthcare, utilities and a full monthly budget for a single person, a couple and a family.

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02

El Salvador residency and visas

El Salvador visa and residency options — rentista, pensionado, investor and family routes — with document lists, costs and how long each takes.

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03

The El Salvador passport

How to get an El Salvador passport — who qualifies, the naturalisation timeline, visa-free travel, renewal costs and the consulate process from abroad.

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04

El Salvador dual citizenship

El Salvador allows dual citizenship. Who qualifies, how naturalisation works, what it means for US citizens, and what you gain beyond the passport.

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05

The Freedom Passport programme

El Salvador's Freedom Visa — the $1 million bitcoin or USDT citizenship-by-investment programme. What it grants, who it is for, and how it compares to Caribbean CBI.

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06

Retiring in El Salvador

What retirement in El Salvador actually looks like — the pensionado route, healthcare quality, monthly budgets, where retirees settle and the real drawbacks.

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07

El Salvador for digital nomads

Internet speeds, coworking, monthly rents, visa options and the practical reality of working remotely from El Salvador's coast and capital.

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08

Healthcare in El Salvador

Public versus private healthcare in El Salvador — hospital quality, insurance costs, what a consultation runs, prescriptions, and when people fly out for treatment.

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09

Banking in El Salvador

How banking works in El Salvador — which banks accept foreigners, what documents you need, wire fees, bitcoin at the bank, and how to move money in.

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10

Schools in El Salvador

International and bilingual schools in El Salvador — fees, curricula, admissions timing, and what families moving here should expect.

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11

Embassies and consulates

Foreign embassies in San Salvador and Salvadoran consulates abroad — what they can and cannot do for you, and what to do if you lose a passport.

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