Moving to Puerto Rico from Australia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Australia to Puerto Rico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Australia to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 16.2% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$110,000 salary in Australia would need to be roughly $64,400 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Australia and Puerto Rico.
What does your salary buy?
A$110,000 → $64,400
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 17.5% less
Groceries
pay 18.1% more
Transportation
pay 18.3% less
Housing
pay 14.3% less
Childcare
pay 54.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Australia performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Australia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Australia performs better than Puerto Rico across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Australia performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), Australian Taxation Office (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Puerto Rico. To live, work, or study long-term in Puerto Rico, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Puerto Rico's immigration authority.
Australia passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Puerto Rico than Australia?
On average Puerto Rico is about 16% less expensive than Australia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?
Budget about $16,100 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a A$110,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?
Connectivity is usually fine (Puerto Rico: 28.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Puerto Rico offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?
Australia performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to Australia?
Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.
What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?
The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Australia, the official language is English.
