Side-by-side city decision # San Salvador vs Havana. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link San SalvadorEl Salvador1 VS HavanaCuba5 $1,110San Salvador monthly budget $770Havana monthly budget 35 MbpsSan Salvador internet 5 MbpsHavana internet Decision summary Havana Havana leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Havana Speed Fastest internet San Salvador Vibe Best nomad vibe Havana Safety Highest safety Havana Air Cleanest air Havana Walk Most walkable Havana Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [San Salvador](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/el-salvador/san-salvador.md) El Salvador 1/6 Budget$1,110 Internet35 Mbps Vibe6/10 [Havana](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/cuba/havana.md) Cuba 5/6 Budget$770 Internet5 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total estimated budget $1,110 $770 1-bed center rent $550 $400 Coworking desk $120 $120 Local meal $6.5 $7 Cappuccino $2.8 $2.5 Gym membership $40 $30 Transport budget $60 $20 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 35 Mbps 5 Mbps Nomad vibe 6/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 45/100 65/100 Air quality 55/100 70/100 Walkability 6/10 8/10 Female safety 6/10 7/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 5/10 5/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Average Average English proficiency Basic Basic Climate type Tropical wet and dry Tropical monsoon Best time to visit Nov - Mar Nov - Apr Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [San Salvador](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/el-salvador/san-salvador.md) El Salvador → ### Strengths * Very low cost of living compared to North America * Excellent local cuisine and street food * Close to world-class surfing beaches like El Tunco * Growing digital nomad community with events * Friendly locals and welcoming expat groups * Territorial tax system (no tax on foreign income) ### Trade-offs * Safety concerns in certain neighborhoods at night * Inconsistent internet speeds and occasional power outages * High humidity and heat most of the year * Limited coworking spaces compared to other hubs * Public transportation is chaotic and unreliable * English is not widely spoken outside tourist areas ### Common visa routes * 90-day tourist visa (renewable via border run) * Digital Nomad Visa (temporary residency) * Investment-based residency [Havana](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/cuba/havana.md) Cuba → ### Strengths * Rich culture and vibrant music scene * Affordable cost of living for foreigners * Beautiful colonial architecture * Friendly locals and strong community feel * Great beaches nearby * Unique vintage car experience ### Trade-offs * Very poor and expensive internet * Frequent power cuts and shortages * Dual currency confusion (CUP/USD) * Bureaucracy and slow services * Limited access to international banking * Quality of imported goods is low ### Common visa routes * Tourist card (30 days) * Extended visa (up to 90 days) * Business visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.