Just Landed in El Salvador? Your First 7 Days

Tigo and Claro are the two dominant networks, both with solid 4G/LTE across San Salvador and the main towns and patchier coverage in rural and coastal areas. Prepaid (prepago) SIMs are cheap and easy to buy with a passport at any kiosk, phone shop or airport counter. For your first few days before you sort a physical SIM, an eSIM such as Airalo or Holafly works well and saves queuing on arrival.

Typical cost: Prepaid SIM around $1-3; monthly data bundles roughly $10-25 depending on the allowance and whether social apps are included.

The US dollar is the everyday currency, so no exchange is needed and everything is quoted in dollars. Bitcoin lost its legal-tender status in early 2025 under El Salvador's IMF agreement, so while a handful of coastal businesses still accept it voluntarily, you should plan around cash and cards and not rely on crypto for daily spending.

Opening an account: Opening a local account generally requires residency (a carné de residente), a NIT tax number, and proof of address and income, so most newcomers cannot do it immediately. Banco Agrícola, Banco Cuscatlán and Davivienda are the largest and most foreigner-familiar banks. Many expats simply keep using a US or international dollar account and withdraw cash as needed, since there is no currency conversion.

Cash: Cash is king outside malls and chains: buses, market stalls, pupuserías and small shops often take only small-denomination notes. Break large bills early at supermarkets or petrol stations, because many vendors genuinely cannot change a $20, and keep a stock of $1 and $5 notes for daily errands and tips.

Tipping: A 10% service charge (propina) is often already added to restaurant bills; check before adding more, and if it is not included, 10% is standard. Round up for taxis, tip a dollar or two for grocery baggers and petrol attendants who work largely for tips, and leave a small amount for hotel staff.

There is no mandatory local address-registration step simply for arriving in El Salvador. Tourists typically enter under the CA-4 arrangement (shared with Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) for up to 90 days. Registration only becomes relevant if you apply for temporary or permanent residency, at which point you receive a residency card (carné de residente) and apply for a NIT tax number. Arriving as a visitor does not trigger any registration deadline, but keep your entry stamp safe as it defines your legal stay.

Where: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), San Salvador.

San Salvador has cheap but crowded public buses and microbuses covering routes across the metropolitan area for well under a dollar, but most newcomers rely on ride-hailing for safety, comfort and simplicity, especially at first. Driving is feasible and useful for exploring beaches and volcanoes, though traffic, aggressive overtaking and informal parking take some getting used to. The country is compact, so intercity trips are short.

From the airport: From SAL airport, take an Uber (roughly $25-35 to San Salvador) or the official airport taxi desk inside the terminal; always agree a fare before leaving with any street taxi. Shared airport shuttle vans are a cheaper option and run both to the capital and directly to surf towns such as El Tunco and El Zonte on the La Libertad coast.

Furnished flats and houses are widely advertised on Facebook Marketplace and local Facebook groups, plus Encuentra24 and OLX; estate agents (bienes raíces) handle pricier and long-term listings. Popular newcomer areas include Colonia Escalón, San Benito and Santa Elena in the capital, walkable Santa Tecla just to the west, and coastal El Tunco and El Zonte. Viewing in person and confirming ownership before paying anything is essential.

Typical rent: A modern one-bedroom in a good San Salvador neighbourhood runs roughly $550-900 per month; simpler flats outside the centre can be found for $300-500, while prime furnished units, gated communities and beach rentals cost more. Prices are in dollars, so there is no exchange-rate uncertainty.

Deposit norm: Typically one month's rent as a deposit plus the first month upfront, and landlords often prefer longer commitments. Furnished short-term and beach rentals may ask for more, and many transactions and viewings are arranged over WhatsApp.

There is a free public system run by MINSAL and the ISSS social-security scheme, but it is stretched, slow and Spanish-only, so most expats and wealthier locals use private clinics and hospitals. Private care in San Salvador is good and remains affordable by Western standards, with English-speaking doctors available at the larger hospitals. Rural and coastal areas have far fewer facilities, so serious cases head to the capital.

How to access it: For anything serious go straight to a private hospital such as Hospital de Diagnóstico, Hospital de la Mujer or Centro Médico Escalón in San Salvador; you pay upfront and claim back on insurance. Pharmacies (Farmacias San Nicolás, Farmacia UNO) are plentiful, often open late, and dispense many medicines, including some antibiotics, without a prescription. Keep your insurer's contact details saved offline.

Insurance: Public emergency care exists but is basic, so private international or local health insurance is strongly recommended. Without it you pay cash for private treatment, and while consultations are cheap, hospital stays and procedures add up quickly. Confirm your policy covers El Salvador and includes medical evacuation if you plan to spend time on the coast.

• Greet with a handshake or, among acquaintances, a light cheek kiss, and offer a friendly 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' before getting to business.
• Salvadorans are warm but indirect, so soften requests, avoid blunt confrontation and never criticise someone publicly or make them lose face.
• Dress neatly; casual but tidy clothing is the norm in the city, and beachwear stays at the beach.
• Learn basic Spanish quickly, as English is limited outside tourism, call centres and upscale areas, and even a little effort is warmly received.
• Use titles like 'señor', 'señora', 'don' and 'doña' with older people and in formal settings as a sign of respect.
• Accept offered food or coffee when visiting a home, as hospitality is important and refusing outright can seem cold.
• Handle bureaucracy and service staff with patience and courtesy; a friendly, unhurried manner gets far better results than impatience.

• Avoid any discussion of gang affiliations, and never photograph police, soldiers or checkpoints.
• Punctuality is relaxed socially but expected for formal and business appointments, so build in buffer time for both.
• Do not flash phones, jewellery or cash in the street, even in safer districts.
• Do not assume everyone speaks English or that card payments are accepted; carry cash and a few key Spanish phrases.
• Steer clear of political arguments about the government and the state of exception with people you do not know well.