El Salvador has earned the 70th position out of 192 countries in Rumavi’s 2026 Global Relocation Index, posting an overall score of 63.4 out of 100. Anchored by robust financial incentives, the country outperforms its Northern Triangle neighbors—Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras—while trailing Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize in the regional rankings.

The report identifies foreign investment protections as the nation’s standout asset, awarding El Salvador an impressive 90 points for foreign property rights and 88 points for foreign-source income tax treatment. Combined with an 84.6 score in overall affordability, these parameters propelled the country to a 75-point score in its broader financial and fiscal pillar.

These favorable fiscal conditions shine brightest for retirees and remote workers. El Salvador secured 38th place worldwide for retirees (67.5 points) and 47th for digital nomads (67.9 points), driven by lifestyle appeal, health and climate metrics, and accessible short-term residency permissions.

However, structural challenges remain. El Salvador placed 82nd for families, weighted down by a 32.2 score in education, and dropped to 111th for entrepreneurs, where startup ecosystem ratings fell to 25.7 points. Stressing that individual priorities vary, Rumavi noted that “the country profile relies on partial data.”