San Salvador vs El Tunco
πΆ
San Salvador has 3x faster internet
π
El Salvador offers a digital nomad visa
π° Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
San Salvador
El Tunco
Total Budget
$1,200/mo
$1,200/mo
Rent (1BR)
$550/mo
$400/mo β
Coworking
$100/mo
N/A
Meal Out
$4
$3 β
Coffee
$3
$2 β
Both cities have similar costs
π» Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
π San Salvador
πΆ Internet70 Mbps
π TimezoneUTC-6
π£οΈ Englishmedium
π Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
πΊπΈ US West8h
πΊπΈ US East8h
π¬π§ London5h
π©πͺ Berlin4h
π El Tunco
πΆ Internet25 Mbps
π TimezoneUTC-6
π£οΈ Englishmedium
π Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
πΊπΈ US West8h
πΊπΈ US East8h
π¬π§ London5h
π©πͺ Berlin4h
π‘οΈ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
San Salvador
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp24Β°C
Rainy Days201/year
Best months: February, January, March, December
El Tunco
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp28Β°C
Rainy Days191/year
Best months: January, February, March, December
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
24Β°27Β°
Apr
25Β°29Β°
Jul
24Β°28Β°
Oct
23Β°27Β°
San SalvadorEl Tunco
π Full Comparison
Category
πSan Salvador
πEl Tunco
π°
Monthly Budget
$1,200
$1,200
πΆ
Internet Speed
70 Mbps
Winner25 Mbps
π‘οΈ
Safety
4/5
4/5
β
Nomad Score
3.8/10
4/10
π½οΈ
Food Scene
8/10
7/10
π
Nightlife
7/10
8/10
πΆ
Walkability
5/10
8/10
Winnerπ₯
Community
small
medium
Winner1
San Salvador wins
vs
2
El Tunco wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
π΅Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
π»Developer
San Salvador
70 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
π¦Social Butterfly
El Tunco
Larger nomad community for networking
π‘οΈSafety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
πFoodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
πParty Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
πSan Salvador
Pros
- +Uses USD as currency - no exchange hassle
- +Dramatic safety improvement under Bukele (1.9 homicides per 100k)
- +Affordable cost of living for Central America
- +Excellent pupusas and local cuisine
Cons
- βLimited coworking infrastructure compared to major nomad hubs
- βTraffic congestion and poor walkability
- βState of Exception raises human rights concerns
- βRainy season can disrupt outdoor activities
πEl Tunco
Pros
- +World-class surfing with consistent waves year-round
- +Uses USD as official currency eliminating exchange hassles
- +Very affordable cost of living for Central America
- +Digital Nomad Visa available for up to 4 years tax-free
Cons
- βNo formal coworking spaces in town yet
- βInternet can be unreliable especially during storms
- βVery small town with limited amenities
- βParty atmosphere may not suit everyone