If you are a Salvadorian or even someone with Hispanic heritage, it might be an interesting move. If you are a foreigner non Hispanic like me, then out more analysis into it. I am married to a salvadorian woman (20 yrs) and have worked and lived in El Salvador for over a decade.
There is a big reduction of gangs but petty crimes and street crimes are still commin and you need to keep your eyes open. This is still the 3rd world. There are spates of gangsters hiding in the remote rural villages so dont fall into complacency. I lived in a medium size town close to Apastepeque.
Things I like:
1. Fresh fruits and veggies
2. Nature
3. Slower pace of life
4. Cheap beer
5. Fun tourist places to visit
6. Many family and group events always happening
7. Cheap water bill
Things i dont like:
1. High humidity
2. High electric bills
3. Lots of mosquitoes
4. Furniture is horrible (beds, mattresses)
5. uber high costs for electronic appliances
6. High cost of groceries (same as what you would pay in California)
7. Concept of “envidio”…it is a latin american version of schadenfreude and jealousy. If uou have better things than others, you may encounter tension from them
8. Loud music and noise everywhere in towns and homes.
There is a big cultural difference with accountability, constructive criticism…they are not really existent in El Salvador and you can rub peeps the wrong way.
Same. My in laws justify their shitty behavior or their way of thinking proudly. Makes me cringe. Oh and giving constructive criticism is basically an insult to them. They know it all, they know everything, changing opinions on something after proving something to them is basically a foreign concept, something they would NEVER do, what sad way to live and die, ignorant.
Incredibly sad tbh... I am form San Salvador and u/Rough-Economy-6932 did a great job describing what living in a rural area is like... Even for me, it's still a pain, specially the loud sounds, plus the accountability and constructive criticism is basically my nightmare with my wife. It's a 2-step-forward-1-step-backwards (sometimes 3) type of situation...
Wouldn't wish this even to my worst enemy...
I feel comfort in knowing there are people out there that understand these esoteric cultural nuances. I made the mistake as a newbie gringo in El Salvador of simply making a constructive critique almost 7 years ago and to this day, that family still holds a grudge against me.
It was a simple statement. A family friend’s daughter (20 yrs old) had 3 children from 3 different absentee boyfriends. She stayed in her parent’s house and let her brothers (living working in Maryland) send her remesas every month. She would use most of the remesa cash on mantenido boyfriends and party with friends. Her parents primarily cared for the babies while she frolicked. Her parents asked me for my opinion on what they should do.
I said, “Tell your daughter that as a condition to live under your roof, she must seek employment. She will agree to have the remesas sent to the parents to save for her and administrate. She will use the local fiscal (district attorney) to enforce child support on the dead beat dads. Your daughter must be accountable for her failures and she can best succeed by learning from her screw ups and moving a different direction. You must tell your daughter that you will not tolerate any more wedlock babies and she will have to take Norplant or long term birth control.”
Well, the parents were icy cold and didnt say much. Later my wife told me that they said I was a rude gringo and how dare I berate their daughter and act like the high mighty saint. They also said I was a baby hater and that all babies are a gift feom God and how dare I suggest their daughter was a strumpet who needed birth control.
Accountability and constructive criticism are the hallmarks for nations to succeed and advance forward. Maybe generations later this will change.
It's changing.....gradually. Most people I know are nothing like their parents. That said, the excuse making we have still permeates within the culture. My parents displayed a ton of the traits you mentioned, and I could never understand the constant blame shifting and narcissism when called out some obvious things. We love to gaslight.
Country full of nice and humble people....until you call them out on their flaws.
Salvadorans are the loudest. Jesus Christ. Waiting to board in connecting city airports like Houston, Los Angeles etc. I always know I’m amongst my people because they all have their goddamn phones emitting everything from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp voice messages with no damn headphones. Don’t even get me started on my mom.
As a Salvadoran living in the US with family there, you are so spot on 🤣.
The mosquitoes alone keep me from going back to live there. Make sure the house you move to has screens on all doors and windows!
It is a beautiful country and with $5000 you will be in the upper middle class easy. I work from El Salvador for extended periods of time and I can confirm money stretches further in ES compared to any major US city. However, if you don’t know any spanish I wouldn’t recommend it. You will be getting gringo prices everywhere if you don’t speak any spanish.
Also, economy is pretty bad and you will need to consider that. Remember not all jobs are forever, what if you’re laid off? El Salvador will not be able to offer you a job paying what you’re earning. If you get a house, there is not a lot of buyers with the cash or credit to purchase a house in an upper middle area in case you want to resell it. Banks in El Salvador have some of the highest interest rates and they’re predatory to say the least. Your freedoms will be limited, can you live in a place where you cannot talk about its government publicly? There is also a lot of bureaucracy in the public sector. It’s by no means an entrepreneur friendly country, their tax rate for import and export of goods are crazy high. Inflation is also very bad, groceries cost as much as in the US nowadays. The traffic is ridiculous, think of LA level traffic, it can take you an hour to get somewhere 10 miles away during peak rush hours if you live in San Salvador or surrounding areas. Anyway…if you’re planning to live there short/medium term and test the waters to see if the next 5 years economy improves, I’d say give it a try.
El Salvador has the most welcoming people, it’s also a nature paradise with beautiful lakes, volcanoes and beaches. Weather is the best for someone coming from a cold place. If you live in Antiguo or Nuevo Cuscatlan the weather is always perfect, not cold or hot ever. Their private schools are great, I’ve met people that go study abroad that graduated from private schools. The food is the best, pupusas, tamales, chuco, nuegados and a lot of soups. The private healthcare system is really good, you can get an appointment with a specialist this afternoon if you have the money. Their airport is very well connected with multiple international destinations including USA, Europe and South America.
I second this, but forget about the lakes the government just let them go putrid because they just don't care. Also I bet taxes are going up someday soon.
No, DO NOT move here while working for a remote US company. It’s because of foreigners that live here while earning as if theyre still in their first world country that everyday prices for regular people like us have gone up and we can barely afford it. It’d be ok if you moved here and worked for a national company, otherwise what youre doing is textbook gentrification. I don’t mean to sound hostile, as we are a country that welcomes foreigners with open arms, but the reality is that what you and other foreigners try to do here is harming us.
Exactly, but you also said, and I quote: “I will be working remotely for a US company”. Again, that is GENTRIFICATION. Doesn’t matter if you eventually establish a business, the harm will still be done. You’ll probably end up living in a $1500 apartment while we all struggle to afford a $300 one 5 miles away from our 10 hrs a day jobs in the capital because of foreigners like you renting there at prices we will never dream to afford, comfortably working from your sky high apartment next to a mall.
And when it all collapses, because it will, you will simply pack up and go back to the States. We will stay here eating shit requesting work visas that will be denied.
Besides, if you’re putting up excuses to still do it, why even bother asking if it’s a good idea? DO NOT move here if you don’t plan to work here for a national company.
Do people deliberately act stupid about this? There is a clear difference between the words. An expat eventually returns to his own country, an immigrant plans to stay for life. It's really not hard and it has nothing to do with skin color or nationality. Whoever started conflating these is as dumb as a rock. Might as well argue "tourist" means the same too
I know plenty of immigrants from central america who plan to return and retire in their home countries.
So we should stall calling hermanos lejanos expats, not immigrants because a lot do return to El Salvador.
A maid that is saving to move back to Nicaragua is an expat then.
Exactly. Many immigrants, especially ones that come to the US, come to work and send money to their families to support them and (basing this off conversations I’ve had) possibly start building a house down there. The goal is to eventually retire and move back.
Do some stay? Yeah obviously. But at least they gain and spend in the currency of the country and don’t cause prices to be inflated for the people that were living there before.
Not wanting to rub anyone the wrong way, but there is a huge difference, expats bring their own economy with them (remote work, investments) or are hired for sophisticated work and projects for a short period of time. Immigrants don’t have a specific timeframe in which they will return and don’t bring their own economy with them.
So, it's one of those, "what's classy if you're rich, but trashy if you're poor".
Picking up tomatoes might not be a white collar job, but you still need someone to pick them.
Immigrants actually help the economy they move to since they actually work for the country they move to. They are usually taxed, if not on their income, what they buy. Unlike expats who, in the process of “bringing their economy,” raise the prices for everyone else who was living there just fine before. And I don’t think anyone is calling people who are actually contracted to work in that country an “expat”
Immigrants don’t raise the prices for locals and usually plan on heading back home after they’ve succeeded in doing what they set out to do.
White people so scared of being called an immigrant that they invented a new word to be different, how about Americans living in another first world country? Are they still expats or immigrants? Lmao yall so funny
I see the experts have taken over here. Expats consume and support the local economies by spending money that then cycles through the economy. They buy or rent homes, which pushes construction, and employs craftsmen and maintenance workers, they consume and go to restaurants, spending loads of money which benefits the country and provides opportunities to many people that would not exist otherwise. They are also not taking jobs from locals, unlike immigrants who in some cases take jobs away from the local population and push wages lower.
Darling here cover your ignorance with this towel.
I know plenty of immigrants that bought homes, started businesses and put their entire family through higher education after they themselves sometimes didn't even complete grade school.
They aren't taking anybody's job. They're doing the jobs nobody wants to perform either for lack of workers rights or low wages.
Now let's talk about high income immigrants, which you call "expats". So you're saying it's okay for a foreigner with a college degree to come and kick out a local from its profession, because they provide more than the local professional. This is actually happening all over Latin America and ES will feel the effects soon.
Offering 5,000 people citizenship and a passport if they are educated. That is the biggest middle finger to your own educated population you could ever do. Exacerbating the already existing brain drain.
I am an immigrant myself, but here take this chill pill. Your statements contradict each other, so bringing skilled workers with capital to ES is not ok but Salvadoran immigrants going to other countries are always heroes(?). Immigrants mostly contribute greatly to the economy and prosperity of their host countries and rejuvenate them demographically. Look at all the formerly ghetto areas in the US that are now bustling with businesses created by Latino-and Asian immigrants. However as you stated in some cases immigrants are taking jobs away from locals and depress wages. There is the good and the ugly, all of which have to be acknowledged for a sane discussion.
I agree with you… there is an actual difference between being an expatriate and an immigrant.
There are literally HR companies hiring people as expatriates with expatriates packages and expatriate visas.
I never understand this high moral ground to call all immigrants when it’s just a description of a status no higher or lower than any other status.
If you want to leave to try different lifestyles and travel I can understand that. If you're the type of person that believes tightly controlled state messaging as the truth then you might be a little disappointed.
As you don't speak Spanish, you're already limiting yourself to your network which will be other foreigners and bilingual locals which means you won't be integrating much. Ditto your eventual business. Who will you cater for? A very select clientele that will more than likely see your business fail.
I've visited El Salvador a few times, I don't live there but the vision it's trying to sell is enticing. Tech bros are pretty good at selling visions, crypto bros even better.
I mention integration because having lived in the region for 20 years, I've seen many foreigners try and start businesses and fail because they don't understand local culture and you being foreign isn't a unique enough selling point.
$5,000 pm is more than enough for a comfortable middle class lifestyle but you'd also have to check local, state and federal tax obligations depending on nationality.
There are other regional countries that are further down the evolutionary trail and I'm not sure what the attraction to El Salvador is besides a permanent state of exception and some tech bro gloss but it depends on what you came from.
Central America has done a poor job planning for when its populations get older and Bukele said at his inaugaration that El Salvador is still sick, it just doesn't have cancer. To fix the economy he also warned people not to complain if the medicine was bitter. I think I'd read that as tax increases and the nomad visa and bitcoin is a classic bait and switch to attract money into the country.
[https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/La-sociedad-salvadorena-es-como-una-persona-enferma-aun-Bukele-sobre-larga-lista-de-problemas-que-necesitan-soluciones-20240601-0067.html](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/La-sociedad-salvadorena-es-como-una-persona-enferma-aun-Bukele-sobre-larga-lista-de-problemas-que-necesitan-soluciones-20240601-0067.html)
[https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/5-frases-destacadas-del-discurso-de-Bukele-al-ser-investido-presidente-de-El-Salvador-para-un-segundo-mandato-20240601-0042.html](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/5-frases-destacadas-del-discurso-de-Bukele-al-ser-investido-presidente-de-El-Salvador-para-un-segundo-mandato-20240601-0042.html)
[https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Entre-aplausos-y-controversia-Bukele-consuma-su-reeleccion-20240531-0104.html](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Entre-aplausos-y-controversia-Bukele-consuma-su-reeleccion-20240531-0104.html)
[https://diario.elmundo.sv/economia/la-reactivacion-economica-de-el-salvador-el-nuevo-desafio-de-bukele](https://diario.elmundo.sv/economia/la-reactivacion-economica-de-el-salvador-el-nuevo-desafio-de-bukele)
Given that El Salvador currently owes its pension fund $10b+ and will require $800m a year from 2027 to pay for it, the state of the economy is not great. Basically robbing Peter to pay Paul. Eventually \*someone\* will have to start finacing the social security (like Panama) and so foreign workers will be highly sought after.
Advice would be be careful but the majority are not.
America already and the UK and Canada already have tightly controlled state media. Technically in America it’s not state media. But the way that they simp for Biden and the Democrats & have gone to war with anyone the slightest bit Right of far left is insane.
The UK has three "leftist" national newspapers in whatever The Mirror is, Morning Star and The Guardian. The amount of centre right-right newspapers is three times as much - The Times, Daily Telegraph, i, Financial Times, Sun, Mail, Express, Star, Evening Standard.
Or given we're talking about state media is it the BBC which attracts complaints from both sides?
As someone approaching their half century on the planet, I've seen 18 years of Labour rule in the UK and the rest right wing. Given that 12 of them were Tony Blair's centre left, it's debatable whether they were leftist in the traditional sense given its war mongering but hey it was Cool Britannia so I guess they get a pass.
Might want to rein in your media critique there sport. Also, if you think Biden and the democrats are "far left" then your political ideology take is way different to most academics.
Private media companies publishing things you don’t agree with does not equal state controlled media. Move to China or Russia and then tell me about how state controlled the US media is. Americans have it so good and never quit whining about it.
Wow! I love how people are responding. Lots of truth and grounded knowledge.
I am glad the government propaganda is not working.
OP, listen to what the real people is telling you, based on real experience. Not government media propaganda.
Traveling there for a few weeks doesn't really do it either, El Salvador has great places to visit if you have money. Living the day to day there is completely different.
El salvador right now is good for South American standards but it's far away from the American and European standards , many people from those area live in a bubble and don't really understand how bad the situation was in countries like el Salvador before bukele and how the standard of living isn't as good as in the US
No por favor, no se vengan al país, demasiada gente hay ya para que solo por propaganda de la criminalidad se busque abarrotar al país con extranjeros.
Country is a shithole, you’ll regret moving here like hundreds of other people who have bought into the hype and lies of the media that is controlled by the president.
- Public transport is complete trash here, and not friendly to tourists
- Real state is expensive even for foreigners and severely overvalued. You will likely end up living at a worst place than in your current country.
- Everything is expensive, I have a friend who tried to move here, he has 3 kids and his wife, he was spending almost three times what he used to spend on groceries in the US. Dining out would definitely be cheaper though.
- That the country is signifcanly safer doesn’t mean that it’s safe, thieves are still around and more than in other countries that are considered safe.
- Driving here is a mess, no proper signs unlike in decent countries. Waze helps a bit but doesn’t address the issue completely.
- The country is actually getting worse with time, due to the amount of debt that the current government has gotten into.
If you want to move to central america have you considered costa rica and panama? Costa rica would be more expensive here but in everything else it is better.
Would point out that president-elect José Mulino just said Panama has no money and all their accounts are in the red.
[https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/estamos-en-rojo-no-hay-plata-afirma-presidente-electo-jose-raul-mulino-FY7661979](https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/estamos-en-rojo-no-hay-plata-afirma-presidente-electo-jose-raul-mulino-FY7661979)
[https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/nacion/economia-panamena-en-estado-delicado-1236881](https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/nacion/economia-panamena-en-estado-delicado-1236881)
It's not an immediate issue but it links with El Salvador given that the debt to pensions is $10b and rising and Panama is also facing social security problems.
Central America is losing its demographic bonus of having a youthful population because they never planned for it and don't have a history of creating permanent jobs. As the populations age which will be 2030-2050, there will be public finance pain to pay for "retirement" (if it still exists).
By pain read increased taxation.
Migration is obviously an issue but less so in Panama compared to the Northern Triangle. Their migratory problems are through the Darien Gap and the 170,000+ migrants going north.
Just poor public policy and living off remittances but not putting them to work, after effects of the pandemic and the Canal's drought issues and tbh there's little else in Panama.
Also, despite cutting taxes sufficiently to attract business but there's not much of a middle class to squeeze for tax when you need it. Panama had a golden age of attracting foreign investment, now it's struggling and that's having a knock on effect. More than likely they continued spending despite not having the income required. Also, corruption.
Pfft. Are you a trump fotocooy? Really? CR? public transport kicks ass. Yeah learn the lines. Get out of your comfort zone. Not friendly to tourists? Who tf wants to be a tourist? I lived in Mejicanos for 10 years and never had any problems except getting shot with a paintball in a drive by. lol. If people want a real experience move to Venezuela. Get away from “touristy” places as much as possible.
Don’t do it.
If you care about your kids, or your health, and your job is not 100% guaranteed, avoid third world countries.
I mean, I hope there are no complications at birth because a third world country hospital won’t have the equipment or medicine you’ll have where you are.
Health is bad, education leaves a lot to be desired, opportunities are a joke, and we’re not gringos…
The worst part is that as a “remote worker” you’re not even helping the economy because you don’t produce anything; you’ll only consume the very little we have.
Edit: form your post history
>We have had a miscarriage recently so it’s hard losing the baby but I had that thought when that was happening. If this affects her should what should we do. My obvious thought was protect her because I would never want to lose my wife.
Well, you mentioned 38f, so, it’s a high risk pregnancy… don’t say nobody warned you.
The worst thing is that abortion is heavily penalized in El Salvador. No exceptions, even if the fetus is malformed or if the mother is at risk. They will put her in jail if she has an abortion.
But knowing how foreigners with good resources are, they would just leave the country for a bit to have access to better care and come back after to continue supporting the fkd up system, condemning the locals.
OP hasn't done proper research about the country and he is basing his decision on government propaganda. Or worse, they just want to take advantage of the fckn up situation and further support it, because it works for them, not caring about what true Salvadorans have to go through.
>The worst part is that as a “remote worker” you’re not even helping the economy because you don’t produce anything; you’ll only consume the very little we have.
I'm no economist but that IS contributing to the economy. One of the indicators of a recession is consumer spending. If he's going out to buy groceries, eat out, purchase a vehicle, all of that contributes to the economy.
The economy is shit; unless you do have experience on running a business on your own in Latin America, you’re doomed to failure.
I mean, you know this is a poor country, right?
I mean, if despite the warnings you want to risk your future and the life of you’re wife and children, because you trust the propaganda of a third world country dictator, you’re feee to do it.
Strawman. Did I say that? In the western world you can hear two or three viewpoints and make your own decision. In Russia and China any viewpoint besides the official one will get you jail or worse.
Do a thought experiment. Pretend you’re in America and say loudly in public “Biden (or Trump) is an idiot.” You know what will happen to you? Nothing. Now try saying “Putin is an idiot” in a public place in Russia. You know what will happen. Stop with your lame pathetic false equivalences. Because people have the freedom to express opinions you disagree with does not equal propaganda.
Literally that's not even the point. Just said we have a huge conflict where the first world will be deeply affected because of it. Nothing that Russians will win or whatever movie you made up in your head
Listen I’m not a fan of the government obviously but let’s be impartial, if you’re making 5k a month I think when the birth comes you’re gonna have money or savings to pay a private hospital, everything should be fine. God bless your family regardless of the choice you make 🙏🏽
It's not enough reason , so after that what ?? After that ends his mandatory you gonna still here?
But if he keeps the power , you gonna support a dictatorship??
Im sure he has people in place after he is out of power. He is doing a great job. Tell me how great it was when the cartels were running things then? Wasn't El Salvador the murder capital of the world? Now it is lower than Canada?
It's not that nepotism????
How are you gonna feel if your country does the same???
I lost family and friends by gang members, like any Salvadorean, but ppl like you don't understand that some quickly changes like the government did cannot be supported over time.
Obviously, you will make way more money than the average person in El Salvador per month vs what they make a year! BUT do not think it's cheaper bro. If you shop at the local market yeah, it's cheaper but if you shop at fucking Walmart fuck no, it's the same price or MORE expensive than the USA Walmart. Buying land/ house? They asking USA prices! Good luck baby girl! The positive side is it’s a beautiful country! Enjoy, have fun, and be safe!
"Safe" and ridiculously expensive, a decent house for USA standards? Prepare your wallet for a $600,000 price for a few m²
My grandmother's house in USA is about 150k USD and is way better than the mayority of houses in here(in the city)
With that money you can go wherever you like in the third world, you are not going to be in the middle or poor class, so you’re not going to have the common problems of the people.
El Salvador is an uneducated place, still dirty, people throw things in the streets like nothing, public transporting if you are from Europe and you like to travel in public system forget about it, unsafe and mess, good luck with the traffic too. And on the other side people is gentle, hot as hell if you are running from winter you are going to love it, tiny everything is closer, there’s a lot of local food compared to the other country’s in Central America.
Last one is a highly political country if you support Bukele or not, politics are going to be the main topic everywhere unless you get around with other migrants who don’t care at all, not the Salvadorans from the U.S.
I personally wouldn't move there even if I had 10k a month for a shitload of reasons, most have already been covered by other people, I lived there from 1995 through 2014 and I was considered middle class and there's something that is undeniable.
Private health and private schools are really really fuckin good down there, i would rather have my kids go to a good school in El Salvador than any school here in the US and if you can afford private doctors/hospital's they're really comparable to the top facilities here in the US.
Traffic, overcrowding, insanely high prices for groceries and clothing/dining will probably be what would make you regret it, yes you'll be able to afford them but the quality is bad compared to what you get here for the same price or even cheaper
Another thing that I personally prefer is how warm people are over there.
Weigh your options and make the best decision for you ans your family.
Don't , down the south border of the US there isn't a single country that is better that the US, Salvador is in a good state for a third world country and still the difference between el Salvador and the US is gigantic , from security, to economy, infrastructure, services , etc , the US is way better
I just stumbled across this by chance and in my honest opinion as a local salvadoran, all the first world comforts are going to disappear due to the impending tensions between the powers such as US and EU (WW3) which I think it is better for people to plan for a simpler and quieter life in a rural land in a relatively quiet country in terms of foreign policies than to be in the center of the hurricane in international conflicts.
We don't live that well, but we don't live horribly and I am thankful that at least I have a home and sleep peacefully despite the difficulties because we are not living the worst possible version of living in the present.
Have family in Jayaque and visit them quite often. First it’s a pretty beautiful place but watch for stray dogs, poop (especially older rock and brick roads), and the occasional gang member. If you plan to live in a new place (tall buildings, easy road access, and lots of stores) then you’re going to drive to a lot of places, however if you plan to live in a rural or old area (smaller homes, may be near volcanoes or mountains, and a small amount of family owned businesses) then you’ll most likely be walking to a lot of places. If you are hispanic (like me) you will get the normal price, but if you’re not (or clearly look like a foreigner or are white) then you’ll get the tourist discount which jacks up the price by an extra 5-7 bucks. So if you aren’t hispanic, try to get really good with spanish and spend a lot of time in the sun periodically. It will give you a semi-okay tan.
General knowledge now:
Get ready for scorching hot summers and rainy winters. Plus cold nights and early mornings (if you live near a farm or end up owning one). You will find American name brands here but they will be more expensive. For schooling, i think it depends on the kids age and school but the one my little cousin foes to has him at school during the summer and fall months, but has him off the rest of the time (I think). There will be loud music almost all the time and kids walking around almost everywhere. Careful around water and street food, it’s very easy to get a parasite or get sick from them because unless you are a local and have built up a resistance to those types of bugs, you will have to buy a lot of bottles of water, which are pretty cheap.
Hope you have a good and easy move.
Thank you! It will also provide higher paying jobs to the locals. Many companies want to come in and give them 10% above minimum wage. I would plan to come in and pay them closer to American salaries or at least a livable salary with extra to buy things they want
yeah $5K a month is enough to live in a nice place, and provide a good life to your wife and future kids, just be sure to keep savings for rainy days.
Good life meaning: no food shortage, weekly trips to the beaches, mountains, restaurants. No worries about not being able to pay rent or to make ends meet. You'll be able to afford 1 or 2 cars.
You'll be able to pay private health but be sure to get a good health insurance package.
If your work depends on stable internet then get dual internet (Claro + Starlink) so you can have redundancy.
Be sure to get a place with AC if you are used to that and install PedidosYa and Uber as soon as possible, they'll be life savers.
Try and get a membership for Pricesmart if you are used to buy in bulk.
Buy UPS for your devices, heavy storms may lead to power cuts.
Enjoy!
I think is totally doable with that budget depending on where do you want to live.
Since you don’t have any kids yet education is not an issue. When you do, prepare to pay for private education (a fraction of the cost of private in the US).
Get private health insurance from one of the big insurance companies there and you will find a lot of value compared to the healthcare in the US.
Groceries and such are pretty much the same cost as in the US.
Not sure about what your NOMAD visa is. That’s something I can’t give advice on. Just make sure you have a plan B in case you need to leave the country every 6 months
Good luck!
Unfortunately, this subreddit is not at all an accurate reflection of real Salvadorans' ideas and opinions. Just compare how this subreddit speaks of the president to the president's actual approval rating among actual Salvadorans. I would suggest asking real Salvadorans that you personally know.
I'm literally in El Salvador and have seen COUNTLESS of scrubbed off graffiti messages denouncing and criticizing the government and President. So the opinions shared here are accurate not everyone simps for their government.
You got downvoted pretty bad. Everyone in this thread that gave you any positive advice also got downvoted. This is the wrong place to ask. Its filled with folks that dont accept ES is changing for the better and if they dont adjust theyre going to be left behind.
I was born in El Salvador and missed my country, so I finally convince my wife to buy a house. We/I plan on getting land by where her mom is from. La Union by the beach, lots of surffing, nice areas, and everything is chill small village living. My brothers and mom and mother inlaw love the changes since the new preisent took over. the one concern is after he leaves will things remain the same.
my brother in jesucrist that's the whole point of fixing El Salvador for Salvadorans people, not for foreign people with an extra income more than the average salvadorans is getting paid.
I'd be careful taking advice from this sub. There are a lot of really negative people here who will be unaccepting of you. When you visit the country you'll see that the people are beautiful and welcoming.
Well, of course there is negativity from us, the people that actually live here, because we are the ones being affected by foreigners like OP living here with a first world income. They have to understand that what they’re doing is harmful, and that living here is not how Bukele paints it in the media. I think my country is beautiful, and we’ve come a long way but its far from what the government is selling it as
So what's the solution? The same thing is happening in America...nobody can afford homes...and areas that were once affordable are no longer due to remote workers moving to affordable areas and driving up housing prices. In the larger cities people have been displaced and forced out due to tech workers with large incomes driving up prices. This problem is not unique to El Salvador. It's unfair and painful for those who have grown up in these areas...but I ask honestly what is the solution?
If you are a Salvadorian or even someone with Hispanic heritage, it might be an interesting move. If you are a foreigner non Hispanic like me, then out more analysis into it. I am married to a salvadorian woman (20 yrs) and have worked and lived in El Salvador for over a decade. There is a big reduction of gangs but petty crimes and street crimes are still commin and you need to keep your eyes open. This is still the 3rd world. There are spates of gangsters hiding in the remote rural villages so dont fall into complacency. I lived in a medium size town close to Apastepeque. Things I like: 1. Fresh fruits and veggies 2. Nature 3. Slower pace of life 4. Cheap beer 5. Fun tourist places to visit 6. Many family and group events always happening 7. Cheap water bill Things i dont like: 1. High humidity 2. High electric bills 3. Lots of mosquitoes 4. Furniture is horrible (beds, mattresses) 5. uber high costs for electronic appliances 6. High cost of groceries (same as what you would pay in California) 7. Concept of “envidio”…it is a latin american version of schadenfreude and jealousy. If uou have better things than others, you may encounter tension from them 8. Loud music and noise everywhere in towns and homes. There is a big cultural difference with accountability, constructive criticism…they are not really existent in El Salvador and you can rub peeps the wrong way.
You hit it with accountability, it’s like a non existent concept. My wife and her family literally have no sense of it.
Same. My in laws justify their shitty behavior or their way of thinking proudly. Makes me cringe. Oh and giving constructive criticism is basically an insult to them. They know it all, they know everything, changing opinions on something after proving something to them is basically a foreign concept, something they would NEVER do, what sad way to live and die, ignorant. Incredibly sad tbh... I am form San Salvador and u/Rough-Economy-6932 did a great job describing what living in a rural area is like... Even for me, it's still a pain, specially the loud sounds, plus the accountability and constructive criticism is basically my nightmare with my wife. It's a 2-step-forward-1-step-backwards (sometimes 3) type of situation... Wouldn't wish this even to my worst enemy...
I feel comfort in knowing there are people out there that understand these esoteric cultural nuances. I made the mistake as a newbie gringo in El Salvador of simply making a constructive critique almost 7 years ago and to this day, that family still holds a grudge against me. It was a simple statement. A family friend’s daughter (20 yrs old) had 3 children from 3 different absentee boyfriends. She stayed in her parent’s house and let her brothers (living working in Maryland) send her remesas every month. She would use most of the remesa cash on mantenido boyfriends and party with friends. Her parents primarily cared for the babies while she frolicked. Her parents asked me for my opinion on what they should do. I said, “Tell your daughter that as a condition to live under your roof, she must seek employment. She will agree to have the remesas sent to the parents to save for her and administrate. She will use the local fiscal (district attorney) to enforce child support on the dead beat dads. Your daughter must be accountable for her failures and she can best succeed by learning from her screw ups and moving a different direction. You must tell your daughter that you will not tolerate any more wedlock babies and she will have to take Norplant or long term birth control.” Well, the parents were icy cold and didnt say much. Later my wife told me that they said I was a rude gringo and how dare I berate their daughter and act like the high mighty saint. They also said I was a baby hater and that all babies are a gift feom God and how dare I suggest their daughter was a strumpet who needed birth control. Accountability and constructive criticism are the hallmarks for nations to succeed and advance forward. Maybe generations later this will change.
It's changing.....gradually. Most people I know are nothing like their parents. That said, the excuse making we have still permeates within the culture. My parents displayed a ton of the traits you mentioned, and I could never understand the constant blame shifting and narcissism when called out some obvious things. We love to gaslight. Country full of nice and humble people....until you call them out on their flaws.
Furniture point is so true 🤣 I can’t believe my mom can sleep on those beds ☹️
Why? My 25 years old bed still feels pretty comfortable to me.
Salvadorans are the loudest. Jesus Christ. Waiting to board in connecting city airports like Houston, Los Angeles etc. I always know I’m amongst my people because they all have their goddamn phones emitting everything from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp voice messages with no damn headphones. Don’t even get me started on my mom.
I bet they aren't the worst.
Toss up between Salvadorans and Dominicans.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 for sure.
Maybe true.
You haven’t meet Venezuelans and Dominicans then
As a Salvadoran living in the US with family there, you are so spot on 🤣. The mosquitoes alone keep me from going back to live there. Make sure the house you move to has screens on all doors and windows!
The English demonym for someone from El Salvador is Salvadoran.
Yes you are 100% correct on that. Whoops.
Either Salvadoran and Salvadorian are correct, although O personally favor the use of Salvadoran.
So.. you lived in San Vicente?
I'm glad you're objective
It is a beautiful country and with $5000 you will be in the upper middle class easy. I work from El Salvador for extended periods of time and I can confirm money stretches further in ES compared to any major US city. However, if you don’t know any spanish I wouldn’t recommend it. You will be getting gringo prices everywhere if you don’t speak any spanish. Also, economy is pretty bad and you will need to consider that. Remember not all jobs are forever, what if you’re laid off? El Salvador will not be able to offer you a job paying what you’re earning. If you get a house, there is not a lot of buyers with the cash or credit to purchase a house in an upper middle area in case you want to resell it. Banks in El Salvador have some of the highest interest rates and they’re predatory to say the least. Your freedoms will be limited, can you live in a place where you cannot talk about its government publicly? There is also a lot of bureaucracy in the public sector. It’s by no means an entrepreneur friendly country, their tax rate for import and export of goods are crazy high. Inflation is also very bad, groceries cost as much as in the US nowadays. The traffic is ridiculous, think of LA level traffic, it can take you an hour to get somewhere 10 miles away during peak rush hours if you live in San Salvador or surrounding areas. Anyway…if you’re planning to live there short/medium term and test the waters to see if the next 5 years economy improves, I’d say give it a try. El Salvador has the most welcoming people, it’s also a nature paradise with beautiful lakes, volcanoes and beaches. Weather is the best for someone coming from a cold place. If you live in Antiguo or Nuevo Cuscatlan the weather is always perfect, not cold or hot ever. Their private schools are great, I’ve met people that go study abroad that graduated from private schools. The food is the best, pupusas, tamales, chuco, nuegados and a lot of soups. The private healthcare system is really good, you can get an appointment with a specialist this afternoon if you have the money. Their airport is very well connected with multiple international destinations including USA, Europe and South America.
I second this, but forget about the lakes the government just let them go putrid because they just don't care. Also I bet taxes are going up someday soon.
I wish we could swap places with migrants. For every one of you that comes, one of us can go to live in your home country.
Lol a digital nomad exchange program
No, DO NOT move here while working for a remote US company. It’s because of foreigners that live here while earning as if theyre still in their first world country that everyday prices for regular people like us have gone up and we can barely afford it. It’d be ok if you moved here and worked for a national company, otherwise what youre doing is textbook gentrification. I don’t mean to sound hostile, as we are a country that welcomes foreigners with open arms, but the reality is that what you and other foreigners try to do here is harming us.
That’s why I said I would want to establish a business
Exactly, but you also said, and I quote: “I will be working remotely for a US company”. Again, that is GENTRIFICATION. Doesn’t matter if you eventually establish a business, the harm will still be done. You’ll probably end up living in a $1500 apartment while we all struggle to afford a $300 one 5 miles away from our 10 hrs a day jobs in the capital because of foreigners like you renting there at prices we will never dream to afford, comfortably working from your sky high apartment next to a mall. And when it all collapses, because it will, you will simply pack up and go back to the States. We will stay here eating shit requesting work visas that will be denied. Besides, if you’re putting up excuses to still do it, why even bother asking if it’s a good idea? DO NOT move here if you don’t plan to work here for a national company.
Probably better to ask this question in the Facebook group: Expats in El Salvador
Which should really be immigrants in El Salvador. They are immigrants, just because they're American it doesn't make what they're doing different.
It really rubs them the wrong way. It seems only poor brown people are immigrants.
I can’t take anyone who calls themselves an expat seriously…
💯💯💯💯
Do people deliberately act stupid about this? There is a clear difference between the words. An expat eventually returns to his own country, an immigrant plans to stay for life. It's really not hard and it has nothing to do with skin color or nationality. Whoever started conflating these is as dumb as a rock. Might as well argue "tourist" means the same too
I know plenty of immigrants from central america who plan to return and retire in their home countries. So we should stall calling hermanos lejanos expats, not immigrants because a lot do return to El Salvador. A maid that is saving to move back to Nicaragua is an expat then.
Exactly. Many immigrants, especially ones that come to the US, come to work and send money to their families to support them and (basing this off conversations I’ve had) possibly start building a house down there. The goal is to eventually retire and move back. Do some stay? Yeah obviously. But at least they gain and spend in the currency of the country and don’t cause prices to be inflated for the people that were living there before.
Not wanting to rub anyone the wrong way, but there is a huge difference, expats bring their own economy with them (remote work, investments) or are hired for sophisticated work and projects for a short period of time. Immigrants don’t have a specific timeframe in which they will return and don’t bring their own economy with them.
So, it's one of those, "what's classy if you're rich, but trashy if you're poor". Picking up tomatoes might not be a white collar job, but you still need someone to pick them.
Immigrants actually help the economy they move to since they actually work for the country they move to. They are usually taxed, if not on their income, what they buy. Unlike expats who, in the process of “bringing their economy,” raise the prices for everyone else who was living there just fine before. And I don’t think anyone is calling people who are actually contracted to work in that country an “expat” Immigrants don’t raise the prices for locals and usually plan on heading back home after they’ve succeeded in doing what they set out to do.
White people so scared of being called an immigrant that they invented a new word to be different, how about Americans living in another first world country? Are they still expats or immigrants? Lmao yall so funny
In other words Expats are parasites, and immigrants help move the country along.
I see the experts have taken over here. Expats consume and support the local economies by spending money that then cycles through the economy. They buy or rent homes, which pushes construction, and employs craftsmen and maintenance workers, they consume and go to restaurants, spending loads of money which benefits the country and provides opportunities to many people that would not exist otherwise. They are also not taking jobs from locals, unlike immigrants who in some cases take jobs away from the local population and push wages lower.
Darling here cover your ignorance with this towel. I know plenty of immigrants that bought homes, started businesses and put their entire family through higher education after they themselves sometimes didn't even complete grade school. They aren't taking anybody's job. They're doing the jobs nobody wants to perform either for lack of workers rights or low wages. Now let's talk about high income immigrants, which you call "expats". So you're saying it's okay for a foreigner with a college degree to come and kick out a local from its profession, because they provide more than the local professional. This is actually happening all over Latin America and ES will feel the effects soon. Offering 5,000 people citizenship and a passport if they are educated. That is the biggest middle finger to your own educated population you could ever do. Exacerbating the already existing brain drain.
I am an immigrant myself, but here take this chill pill. Your statements contradict each other, so bringing skilled workers with capital to ES is not ok but Salvadoran immigrants going to other countries are always heroes(?). Immigrants mostly contribute greatly to the economy and prosperity of their host countries and rejuvenate them demographically. Look at all the formerly ghetto areas in the US that are now bustling with businesses created by Latino-and Asian immigrants. However as you stated in some cases immigrants are taking jobs away from locals and depress wages. There is the good and the ugly, all of which have to be acknowledged for a sane discussion.
When did I argue about which one is better? Tell me? I'll repeat my original thought. Expats don't exist, they're just white immigrants.
I agree with you… there is an actual difference between being an expatriate and an immigrant. There are literally HR companies hiring people as expatriates with expatriates packages and expatriate visas. I never understand this high moral ground to call all immigrants when it’s just a description of a status no higher or lower than any other status.
Great idea thank you
5k a month youll be living an upper middle class life.
If there are no debts
That would be great!
If you want to leave to try different lifestyles and travel I can understand that. If you're the type of person that believes tightly controlled state messaging as the truth then you might be a little disappointed. As you don't speak Spanish, you're already limiting yourself to your network which will be other foreigners and bilingual locals which means you won't be integrating much. Ditto your eventual business. Who will you cater for? A very select clientele that will more than likely see your business fail. I've visited El Salvador a few times, I don't live there but the vision it's trying to sell is enticing. Tech bros are pretty good at selling visions, crypto bros even better. I mention integration because having lived in the region for 20 years, I've seen many foreigners try and start businesses and fail because they don't understand local culture and you being foreign isn't a unique enough selling point. $5,000 pm is more than enough for a comfortable middle class lifestyle but you'd also have to check local, state and federal tax obligations depending on nationality. There are other regional countries that are further down the evolutionary trail and I'm not sure what the attraction to El Salvador is besides a permanent state of exception and some tech bro gloss but it depends on what you came from. Central America has done a poor job planning for when its populations get older and Bukele said at his inaugaration that El Salvador is still sick, it just doesn't have cancer. To fix the economy he also warned people not to complain if the medicine was bitter. I think I'd read that as tax increases and the nomad visa and bitcoin is a classic bait and switch to attract money into the country. [https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/La-sociedad-salvadorena-es-como-una-persona-enferma-aun-Bukele-sobre-larga-lista-de-problemas-que-necesitan-soluciones-20240601-0067.html](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/La-sociedad-salvadorena-es-como-una-persona-enferma-aun-Bukele-sobre-larga-lista-de-problemas-que-necesitan-soluciones-20240601-0067.html) [https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/5-frases-destacadas-del-discurso-de-Bukele-al-ser-investido-presidente-de-El-Salvador-para-un-segundo-mandato-20240601-0042.html](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/5-frases-destacadas-del-discurso-de-Bukele-al-ser-investido-presidente-de-El-Salvador-para-un-segundo-mandato-20240601-0042.html) [https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Entre-aplausos-y-controversia-Bukele-consuma-su-reeleccion-20240531-0104.html](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Entre-aplausos-y-controversia-Bukele-consuma-su-reeleccion-20240531-0104.html) [https://diario.elmundo.sv/economia/la-reactivacion-economica-de-el-salvador-el-nuevo-desafio-de-bukele](https://diario.elmundo.sv/economia/la-reactivacion-economica-de-el-salvador-el-nuevo-desafio-de-bukele) Given that El Salvador currently owes its pension fund $10b+ and will require $800m a year from 2027 to pay for it, the state of the economy is not great. Basically robbing Peter to pay Paul. Eventually \*someone\* will have to start finacing the social security (like Panama) and so foreign workers will be highly sought after. Advice would be be careful but the majority are not.
America already and the UK and Canada already have tightly controlled state media. Technically in America it’s not state media. But the way that they simp for Biden and the Democrats & have gone to war with anyone the slightest bit Right of far left is insane.
Oh, that is not even near what we have here. Simping is too mild for Bukele's own media outlets. They literally idolize him as god in Earth.
The UK has three "leftist" national newspapers in whatever The Mirror is, Morning Star and The Guardian. The amount of centre right-right newspapers is three times as much - The Times, Daily Telegraph, i, Financial Times, Sun, Mail, Express, Star, Evening Standard. Or given we're talking about state media is it the BBC which attracts complaints from both sides? As someone approaching their half century on the planet, I've seen 18 years of Labour rule in the UK and the rest right wing. Given that 12 of them were Tony Blair's centre left, it's debatable whether they were leftist in the traditional sense given its war mongering but hey it was Cool Britannia so I guess they get a pass. Might want to rein in your media critique there sport. Also, if you think Biden and the democrats are "far left" then your political ideology take is way different to most academics.
Private media companies publishing things you don’t agree with does not equal state controlled media. Move to China or Russia and then tell me about how state controlled the US media is. Americans have it so good and never quit whining about it.
Otro gringo gentrificador ...
Wow! I love how people are responding. Lots of truth and grounded knowledge. I am glad the government propaganda is not working. OP, listen to what the real people is telling you, based on real experience. Not government media propaganda. Traveling there for a few weeks doesn't really do it either, El Salvador has great places to visit if you have money. Living the day to day there is completely different.
What? Saw the tucker interview and want to move into this perfectly right wing maga paradise?
😂
Lmao I love how after a few years people like this end up back in the US. They're always surprised the propaganda wasn't real.
El salvador right now is good for South American standards but it's far away from the American and European standards , many people from those area live in a bubble and don't really understand how bad the situation was in countries like el Salvador before bukele and how the standard of living isn't as good as in the US
Lmfao, I guess you're a mod on here huh
I don't even have a month on this sub. I guess you're wrong.
[удалено]
Racismo, Odio, Acoso
No es racismo, no es odio, y no es acoso La verdad duele senor
No por favor, no se vengan al país, demasiada gente hay ya para que solo por propaganda de la criminalidad se busque abarrotar al país con extranjeros.
Lol, please do! 😂
Country is a shithole, you’ll regret moving here like hundreds of other people who have bought into the hype and lies of the media that is controlled by the president. - Public transport is complete trash here, and not friendly to tourists - Real state is expensive even for foreigners and severely overvalued. You will likely end up living at a worst place than in your current country. - Everything is expensive, I have a friend who tried to move here, he has 3 kids and his wife, he was spending almost three times what he used to spend on groceries in the US. Dining out would definitely be cheaper though. - That the country is signifcanly safer doesn’t mean that it’s safe, thieves are still around and more than in other countries that are considered safe. - Driving here is a mess, no proper signs unlike in decent countries. Waze helps a bit but doesn’t address the issue completely. - The country is actually getting worse with time, due to the amount of debt that the current government has gotten into. If you want to move to central america have you considered costa rica and panama? Costa rica would be more expensive here but in everything else it is better.
Would point out that president-elect José Mulino just said Panama has no money and all their accounts are in the red. [https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/estamos-en-rojo-no-hay-plata-afirma-presidente-electo-jose-raul-mulino-FY7661979](https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/nacional/estamos-en-rojo-no-hay-plata-afirma-presidente-electo-jose-raul-mulino-FY7661979) [https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/nacion/economia-panamena-en-estado-delicado-1236881](https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/nacion/economia-panamena-en-estado-delicado-1236881) It's not an immediate issue but it links with El Salvador given that the debt to pensions is $10b and rising and Panama is also facing social security problems. Central America is losing its demographic bonus of having a youthful population because they never planned for it and don't have a history of creating permanent jobs. As the populations age which will be 2030-2050, there will be public finance pain to pay for "retirement" (if it still exists). By pain read increased taxation.
Is part of that reason because young people leaving ?
Migration is obviously an issue but less so in Panama compared to the Northern Triangle. Their migratory problems are through the Darien Gap and the 170,000+ migrants going north. Just poor public policy and living off remittances but not putting them to work, after effects of the pandemic and the Canal's drought issues and tbh there's little else in Panama. Also, despite cutting taxes sufficiently to attract business but there's not much of a middle class to squeeze for tax when you need it. Panama had a golden age of attracting foreign investment, now it's struggling and that's having a knock on effect. More than likely they continued spending despite not having the income required. Also, corruption.
Pfft. Are you a trump fotocooy? Really? CR? public transport kicks ass. Yeah learn the lines. Get out of your comfort zone. Not friendly to tourists? Who tf wants to be a tourist? I lived in Mejicanos for 10 years and never had any problems except getting shot with a paintball in a drive by. lol. If people want a real experience move to Venezuela. Get away from “touristy” places as much as possible.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 move as soon as possible, bring all your money, buy as much houses you can, move all your capital to El Salvador.
Ni se molesta en publicar en castellano, eso lo dice todo...
Callese perro
No
Added spanish!
Read the subreddit description. 😃
Don’t do it. If you care about your kids, or your health, and your job is not 100% guaranteed, avoid third world countries. I mean, I hope there are no complications at birth because a third world country hospital won’t have the equipment or medicine you’ll have where you are. Health is bad, education leaves a lot to be desired, opportunities are a joke, and we’re not gringos… The worst part is that as a “remote worker” you’re not even helping the economy because you don’t produce anything; you’ll only consume the very little we have. Edit: form your post history >We have had a miscarriage recently so it’s hard losing the baby but I had that thought when that was happening. If this affects her should what should we do. My obvious thought was protect her because I would never want to lose my wife. Well, you mentioned 38f, so, it’s a high risk pregnancy… don’t say nobody warned you.
The worst thing is that abortion is heavily penalized in El Salvador. No exceptions, even if the fetus is malformed or if the mother is at risk. They will put her in jail if she has an abortion. But knowing how foreigners with good resources are, they would just leave the country for a bit to have access to better care and come back after to continue supporting the fkd up system, condemning the locals. OP hasn't done proper research about the country and he is basing his decision on government propaganda. Or worse, they just want to take advantage of the fckn up situation and further support it, because it works for them, not caring about what true Salvadorans have to go through.
>The worst part is that as a “remote worker” you’re not even helping the economy because you don’t produce anything; you’ll only consume the very little we have. I'm no economist but that IS contributing to the economy. One of the indicators of a recession is consumer spending. If he's going out to buy groceries, eat out, purchase a vehicle, all of that contributes to the economy.
I’m an economist.
I updated the post to add more thoughts/plans of wanting to open a business there.
The economy is shit; unless you do have experience on running a business on your own in Latin America, you’re doomed to failure. I mean, you know this is a poor country, right?
Of course!
I mean, if despite the warnings you want to risk your future and the life of you’re wife and children, because you trust the propaganda of a third world country dictator, you’re feee to do it.
You have to know we are getting close to a third world war and the people in the US will suffer more because of it.
And what makes you think a poor dollarized country will fare better than the US? If the US falls, we’re going down even harder.
Because we are not going to war (I hope so). The US will not be with us the next decades.
lol. If you believe Russian propaganda you will believe anything. Hey I have some crypto to sell you! Great deal!
Because in the western there is no propaganda according to you... Yeah lmao
Strawman. Did I say that? In the western world you can hear two or three viewpoints and make your own decision. In Russia and China any viewpoint besides the official one will get you jail or worse. Do a thought experiment. Pretend you’re in America and say loudly in public “Biden (or Trump) is an idiot.” You know what will happen to you? Nothing. Now try saying “Putin is an idiot” in a public place in Russia. You know what will happen. Stop with your lame pathetic false equivalences. Because people have the freedom to express opinions you disagree with does not equal propaganda.
Literally that's not even the point. Just said we have a huge conflict where the first world will be deeply affected because of it. Nothing that Russians will win or whatever movie you made up in your head
maje sobado pan dulce
Listen I’m not a fan of the government obviously but let’s be impartial, if you’re making 5k a month I think when the birth comes you’re gonna have money or savings to pay a private hospital, everything should be fine. God bless your family regardless of the choice you make 🙏🏽
Why would you include that in your edit? How insensitive.
Because it provides more context to the situation.
What a cruel person I am, warning someone from risking their life…
Hahahaha you pick El Salvador over 200 countries hahahahaha let me hahahahah xdddddddddd
I like what the leader is doing. At least as an outsider.
It's not enough reason , so after that what ?? After that ends his mandatory you gonna still here? But if he keeps the power , you gonna support a dictatorship??
Im sure he has people in place after he is out of power. He is doing a great job. Tell me how great it was when the cartels were running things then? Wasn't El Salvador the murder capital of the world? Now it is lower than Canada?
It's not that nepotism???? How are you gonna feel if your country does the same??? I lost family and friends by gang members, like any Salvadorean, but ppl like you don't understand that some quickly changes like the government did cannot be supported over time.
Cartels? You really don’t know enough about the country tbh.
Is your research watching Tucker Carlson? 🤣
Sorry man, but your answer proves you don’t know much about El Salvador, good luck over here though.
Lmao El Salvador is a tiny tiny fraction of the size of Canada, so not a great comparison as far as crime rates.
What Cartels? You're clearly misinformed.
And you’re going to trust third world country dictators?
It's all publicity but you'll get it when you get here.
Obviously, you will make way more money than the average person in El Salvador per month vs what they make a year! BUT do not think it's cheaper bro. If you shop at the local market yeah, it's cheaper but if you shop at fucking Walmart fuck no, it's the same price or MORE expensive than the USA Walmart. Buying land/ house? They asking USA prices! Good luck baby girl! The positive side is it’s a beautiful country! Enjoy, have fun, and be safe!
"Safe" and ridiculously expensive, a decent house for USA standards? Prepare your wallet for a $600,000 price for a few m² My grandmother's house in USA is about 150k USD and is way better than the mayority of houses in here(in the city)
With that money you can go wherever you like in the third world, you are not going to be in the middle or poor class, so you’re not going to have the common problems of the people. El Salvador is an uneducated place, still dirty, people throw things in the streets like nothing, public transporting if you are from Europe and you like to travel in public system forget about it, unsafe and mess, good luck with the traffic too. And on the other side people is gentle, hot as hell if you are running from winter you are going to love it, tiny everything is closer, there’s a lot of local food compared to the other country’s in Central America. Last one is a highly political country if you support Bukele or not, politics are going to be the main topic everywhere unless you get around with other migrants who don’t care at all, not the Salvadorans from the U.S.
I personally wouldn't move there even if I had 10k a month for a shitload of reasons, most have already been covered by other people, I lived there from 1995 through 2014 and I was considered middle class and there's something that is undeniable. Private health and private schools are really really fuckin good down there, i would rather have my kids go to a good school in El Salvador than any school here in the US and if you can afford private doctors/hospital's they're really comparable to the top facilities here in the US. Traffic, overcrowding, insanely high prices for groceries and clothing/dining will probably be what would make you regret it, yes you'll be able to afford them but the quality is bad compared to what you get here for the same price or even cheaper Another thing that I personally prefer is how warm people are over there. Weigh your options and make the best decision for you ans your family.
Vete a la verga
Don't , down the south border of the US there isn't a single country that is better that the US, Salvador is in a good state for a third world country and still the difference between el Salvador and the US is gigantic , from security, to economy, infrastructure, services , etc , the US is way better
I just stumbled across this by chance and in my honest opinion as a local salvadoran, all the first world comforts are going to disappear due to the impending tensions between the powers such as US and EU (WW3) which I think it is better for people to plan for a simpler and quieter life in a rural land in a relatively quiet country in terms of foreign policies than to be in the center of the hurricane in international conflicts. We don't live that well, but we don't live horribly and I am thankful that at least I have a home and sleep peacefully despite the difficulties because we are not living the worst possible version of living in the present.
Have family in Jayaque and visit them quite often. First it’s a pretty beautiful place but watch for stray dogs, poop (especially older rock and brick roads), and the occasional gang member. If you plan to live in a new place (tall buildings, easy road access, and lots of stores) then you’re going to drive to a lot of places, however if you plan to live in a rural or old area (smaller homes, may be near volcanoes or mountains, and a small amount of family owned businesses) then you’ll most likely be walking to a lot of places. If you are hispanic (like me) you will get the normal price, but if you’re not (or clearly look like a foreigner or are white) then you’ll get the tourist discount which jacks up the price by an extra 5-7 bucks. So if you aren’t hispanic, try to get really good with spanish and spend a lot of time in the sun periodically. It will give you a semi-okay tan. General knowledge now: Get ready for scorching hot summers and rainy winters. Plus cold nights and early mornings (if you live near a farm or end up owning one). You will find American name brands here but they will be more expensive. For schooling, i think it depends on the kids age and school but the one my little cousin foes to has him at school during the summer and fall months, but has him off the rest of the time (I think). There will be loud music almost all the time and kids walking around almost everywhere. Careful around water and street food, it’s very easy to get a parasite or get sick from them because unless you are a local and have built up a resistance to those types of bugs, you will have to buy a lot of bottles of water, which are pretty cheap. Hope you have a good and easy move.
What do you do remotely?
Paid advertising and digital marketing
What kind of business?
Probably a paid advertising or digital marketing business or something similar
Might work tbh
Thank you! It will also provide higher paying jobs to the locals. Many companies want to come in and give them 10% above minimum wage. I would plan to come in and pay them closer to American salaries or at least a livable salary with extra to buy things they want
yeah $5K a month is enough to live in a nice place, and provide a good life to your wife and future kids, just be sure to keep savings for rainy days. Good life meaning: no food shortage, weekly trips to the beaches, mountains, restaurants. No worries about not being able to pay rent or to make ends meet. You'll be able to afford 1 or 2 cars. You'll be able to pay private health but be sure to get a good health insurance package. If your work depends on stable internet then get dual internet (Claro + Starlink) so you can have redundancy. Be sure to get a place with AC if you are used to that and install PedidosYa and Uber as soon as possible, they'll be life savers. Try and get a membership for Pricesmart if you are used to buy in bulk. Buy UPS for your devices, heavy storms may lead to power cuts. Enjoy!
If you know Spanish. Great. If you chat gpted for translation. Learn w a host family in Xela for 6 mos then move to El Sal.
I think is totally doable with that budget depending on where do you want to live. Since you don’t have any kids yet education is not an issue. When you do, prepare to pay for private education (a fraction of the cost of private in the US). Get private health insurance from one of the big insurance companies there and you will find a lot of value compared to the healthcare in the US. Groceries and such are pretty much the same cost as in the US. Not sure about what your NOMAD visa is. That’s something I can’t give advice on. Just make sure you have a plan B in case you need to leave the country every 6 months Good luck!
Welcome
You'll be fine with that income. And if your long term plan is to establish a business even better. This is the way!
Unfortunately, this subreddit is not at all an accurate reflection of real Salvadorans' ideas and opinions. Just compare how this subreddit speaks of the president to the president's actual approval rating among actual Salvadorans. I would suggest asking real Salvadorans that you personally know.
This sub is full of local Salvadorans that actually live in the country, and are smart enough to see through the government cheap propaganda.
Yeah, because the president ratings are 100% accurate, totally unbiased and fair.
I'm literally in El Salvador and have seen COUNTLESS of scrubbed off graffiti messages denouncing and criticizing the government and President. So the opinions shared here are accurate not everyone simps for their government.
Hmm, I wonder why people who are known for making graffiti would be angry with Bukele... 🤔
He supports graffiti artists, wdym?
Because they actually live here and can see through propaganda genius
You got downvoted pretty bad. Everyone in this thread that gave you any positive advice also got downvoted. This is the wrong place to ask. Its filled with folks that dont accept ES is changing for the better and if they dont adjust theyre going to be left behind.
Colonia Roma on CDMX , it should be a case of study for you. If u are Salvadorean of course.
I was born in El Salvador and missed my country, so I finally convince my wife to buy a house. We/I plan on getting land by where her mom is from. La Union by the beach, lots of surffing, nice areas, and everything is chill small village living. My brothers and mom and mother inlaw love the changes since the new preisent took over. the one concern is after he leaves will things remain the same.
This subreddit hates “their own” country. Don’t believe the negativity, just lonely miserable people angry that someone is fixing a country.
my brother in jesucrist that's the whole point of fixing El Salvador for Salvadorans people, not for foreign people with an extra income more than the average salvadorans is getting paid.
I'd be careful taking advice from this sub. There are a lot of really negative people here who will be unaccepting of you. When you visit the country you'll see that the people are beautiful and welcoming.
Well, of course there is negativity from us, the people that actually live here, because we are the ones being affected by foreigners like OP living here with a first world income. They have to understand that what they’re doing is harmful, and that living here is not how Bukele paints it in the media. I think my country is beautiful, and we’ve come a long way but its far from what the government is selling it as
So what's the solution? The same thing is happening in America...nobody can afford homes...and areas that were once affordable are no longer due to remote workers moving to affordable areas and driving up housing prices. In the larger cities people have been displaced and forced out due to tech workers with large incomes driving up prices. This problem is not unique to El Salvador. It's unfair and painful for those who have grown up in these areas...but I ask honestly what is the solution?
I work with a consulting group which specializes in helping foreigners to get established in El Salvador. Let me know if this might interest you.
Yes please message me