Travel safety comparison · Latin America & the Caribbean
Mexico vs El Salvador: safety comparison
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Mexico vs El Salvador: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
El Salvador sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Mexico (45 against 52), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where El Salvador scores 3/5 against Mexico's 4/5. Drug law diverges sharply: El Salvador carries a tier-severe regime against Mexico's more permissive framework.
| 🇲🇽Mexico | 🇸🇻El Salvador | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 52 / 100 | 45 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #135 | #104 |
| Drug law | Strict | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Exercise Caution | Exercise Caution |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | marriage | legal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | MXN | USD |
Mexico vs El Salvador: common questions
Is Mexico or El Salvador safer to visit?
El Salvador has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 45/100 vs 52/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Mexico or El Salvador safer for solo female travellers?
Mexico is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; El Salvador is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Mexico and El Salvador?
Mexico: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). El Salvador: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).