San Salvador · El Salvador
Portal Alcala
Portal Alcalá is not a traditional gated community with houses and lawns. It is a luxury vertical community. The project consists of two 25-story residential towers bringing 336 high-end apartments to the market. The developers designed this with a specific buyer in mind: professionals working in the new corporate towers, diplomats, and investors who want premium real estate with zero exterior maintenance. The architecture is contemporary, maximizing the views of the San Salvador volcano and the city skyline.
It feels very much like a private, secure resort rather than just an apartment building.
Available properties (2)
Available properties 
Expat presence
medium
Living in El Salvador
Currency
US Dollar. No exchange risk and no currency controls. Bitcoin is also legal tender, though little used day to day.
Ownership
Foreigners own outright with the same rights as citizens, and residency is not required to buy. You need a passport and a NIT tax number, and the transfer must be registered at the Centro Nacional de Registros. Land within 3 km of a border needs specific authorisation.
Residency
Rentista visa on roughly $1,460–$1,500/mo of foreign passive or remote income; Pensionado on a guaranteed pension of $1,100/mo. Since March 2026 temporary residents only need 90 days a year in country, down from close to nine months. Permanent residency after five years.
Tax
Territorial. Foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed regardless of residency status. Property transfer tax is 3% on the portion above roughly $28,500. Notary fees run 1–1.5% of price.
Cost of living
Around $700/mo for a single person excluding rent in San Salvador, with city-centre rent near $650. Among the cheapest in this coverage.
Internet
Fiber available in San Salvador and along the developed surf coast. Coverage thins quickly outside those corridors.
Healthcare
Private hospitals in San Salvador handle routine and most specialist care. Quality sits below Panama and Colombia at the top end, so complex treatment often means flying out.
Climate
Tropical. 25–32°C year-round. Dry season November to April, rainy May to October.
Nearest hub
San Óscar Arnulfo Romero International (SAL), about 45 minutes from San Salvador, with direct flights to several US cities.
Language
Spanish. English limited outside tourism and the surf towns.
