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How to Call El Salvador from the US: A Guide for SMBs and Startups
Imagine you're about to connect with a partner in San Salvador or a remote team member in Santa Ana. You’re ready to dial, but then you pause — what’s the right way to call El Salvador from the United States?
If you’re an SMB or startup managing international communication, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know: the correct format, the El Salvador country code, estimated costs, and how to make professional calls without overspending.
The country code for El Salvador is +503. That means every time you dial a phone number in El Salvador from the US, you’ll need to include 503 after the international exit code.
This ensures your call is correctly routed to El Salvador. Whether you're reaching out to logistics teams or customer service vendors, understanding this small detail helps you avoid costly dialing errors.
Let’s break down the process for dialing both landline and mobile numbers in El Salvador:
Example: If the landline number is 2223-4567, you would dial: 011-503-2223-4567.
Example: For the mobile number 7123-4567, dial: 011-503-7123-4567 or +503-7123-4567 on a smartphone.
On mobile phones, you can long-press “0” to insert a “+” symbol instead of dialing 011.
El Salvador doesn’t use geographic area codes in the same way as countries like the US or Canada. Instead, all phone numbers, both mobile and landline, are 8 digits long and start with specific leading digits that indicate the type of service or region.
Common El Salvador area code prefixes:
Prefix | Type | Details / Region |
---|---|---|
2xxx-xxxx | Landline | San Salvador and surrounding areas |
6xxx-xxxx | Mobile | Various mobile carriers |
7xxx-xxxx | Mobile | Various mobile carriers |
8xxx-xxxx | Special services | Toll-free, shared-cost, or VoIP services |
9xxx-xxxx | Government / Emergency | Some government-related numbers or special services |
Most business communication will involve numbers starting with 2 (landlines) or 7/6 (mobile). These prefixes help identify the number type and ensure you're dialing correctly for professional calls.
Small businesses and startups make calls to El Salvador for a variety of strategic reasons:
Time zone tip: El Salvador typically operates on Central Standard Time (CST), with no daylight saving time changes making it easier to coordinate from many US locations.
International rates vary by provider. Traditional US carriers may charge $0.50 to over $1.00 per minute, depending on your plan.
To avoid bill shock, consider a business-grade cloud phone system like DialLink. With affordable international rates and transparent billing, DialLink helps you scale communication without scaling costs. Check the latest rates to El Salvador here.
DialLink is the AI-powered cloud phone system built for SMBs and startups. Whether you’re connecting with teams in San Miguel or clients in La Libertad, here’s why DialLink is the smarter way to call internationally:
Use the format: 011 (US exit code) + 503 (El Salvador country code) + local 8-digit number. Example: 011-503-7123-4567.
The most affordable way is to use a cloud-based phone system like DialLink, which offers low per-minute international rates, especially for teams making regular business calls.
El Salvador’s country code is +503. You’ll need this after dialing the US exit code (011) when calling from the States.
Prefix the local number with the US exit code (011) and the country code. For example, Salvadoran number 7123-4567 becomes 011-503-7123-4567. On mobile phones, you can use +503 instead of 011-503.
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Content Writer at DialLink
Arina is a content writer with over 7 years of experience in the IT industry. At DialLink, she creates clear, insightful content that helps small business and startup owners simplify communication and drive growth using modern tools. With a strong focus on practical value, Arina transforms complex topics into accessible, actionable stories.
Whether you're scaling support operations or closing deals with clients in Central America, DialLink gives you the tools to do it affordably and professionally.
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