What Currency Does El Salvador Use?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Exchange rate (approximate):
1 GBP ≈ 1.3406 USD
Rates are indicative (July 2026) and change daily. Always check live rates before travelling. Rates by Exchange Rate API.
Travel Money Card
Travelling to El Salvador? Avoid poor airport exchange rates — a prepaid travel money card or multi-currency card usually gets you a far better deal on United States dollar spending.
What is money called in El Salvador?
Money in El Salvador is called the United States dollar — its ISO 4217 currency code is USD, and its symbol is $. The United States dollar is the official legal tender in El Salvador and is used for all everyday transactions — from paying for goods and services to converting money at banks and exchange bureaus. When travelling, you may also see it referred to as the El Salvador currency or simply money in El Salvador. The United States dollar is subdivided into 100 cents, though small-denomination coins may not always be in everyday circulation.
Is the United States dollar used anywhere else?
Yes — United States dollar (USD) is also used in Ecuador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama and 2 other countries.
Not to be confused with other dollar currencies
Several currencies carry the name “dollar”, but each one is separate, with its own code, value and issuing country. The United States dollar (USD) is the currency of El Salvador and other countries listed above.
| Currency | Code | Used in | 1 USD = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Caribbean dollar | XCD | Antigua and Barbuda +5 more | 2.7 |
| Australian dollar | AUD | Australia +3 more | 1.4387 |
| Bahamian dollar | BSD | Bahamas | 1 |
| Barbadian dollar | BBD | Barbados | 2 |
| Belize dollar | BZD | Belize | 2 |
| Brunei dollar | BND | Brunei | 1.2914 |
| Canadian dollar | CAD | Canada | 1.4151 |
| Fijian dollar | FJD | Fiji | 2.2374 |
| Guyanese dollar | GYD | Guyana | 209.26 |
| Jamaican dollar | JMD | Jamaica | 158.64 |
| Liberian dollar | LRD | Liberia | 181.37 |
| Namibian dollar | NAD | Namibia | 16.32 |
Practical money tips for El Salvador
Card payments are widely accepted in most cities, but it's still worth carrying some United States dollar in cash for smaller vendors, local transport and rural areas. Notify your bank before travelling to avoid transactions being blocked, and compare card fees — many cards charge a foreign transaction fee that a dedicated travel money card avoids.
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El Salvador in context
- El Salvador covers 21,041 km², making it the 149th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- It shares a land border with 2 countries: Guatemala, Honduras.
- With 6,029,976 people, El Salvador holds about 11.9% of the population of Central America.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- El Salvador is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare El Salvador
El Salvador currency — FAQ
What is the currency of El Salvador?
The currency of El Salvador is the United States dollar (currency code: USD, symbol: $).
What is the currency code for El Salvador?
The ISO 4217 currency code for the United States dollar is USD.
What is the United States dollar symbol?
The symbol for the United States dollar is $. You will see this on price tags and receipts throughout El Salvador.
What currency is used in El Salvador?
The official currency used in El Salvador is the United States dollar (USD).
Can I use US dollars in El Salvador?
Yes — the US dollar is the official currency of El Salvador, so you can pay in US dollars everywhere.
What is money called in El Salvador?
Money in El Salvador is called the United States dollar (USD).
Do other countries use the United States dollar?
Yes — United States dollar (USD) is also used in Ecuador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama and 2 other countries.
What is the Salvadoran currency?
The Salvadoran currency is the United States dollar (USD), the official money of El Salvador.
What is the currency of the Republic of El Salvador?
The Republic of El Salvador is the formal name of El Salvador. Its currency is the United States dollar (USD).
Is the United States dollar the same as other dollar currencies?
No. Several currencies share the word, but each is a separate currency with its own code and value. The United States dollar is USD; others include Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), Australian dollar (AUD), Bahamian dollar (BSD), Barbadian dollar (BBD).
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