Moving to Puerto Rico from Bahamas

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Bahamas to Puerto Rico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Bahamas to Puerto Rico. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Bahamas.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BS
32.2
PR
14.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BS
16.2
PR
12.5

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Bahamas across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

BS
48.3%
PR
42.4%
Suicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support

BS
3.2
PR
5.4

Bahamas generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BS
3.6t
PR
4.8t

Bahamas performs better than Puerto Rico across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BS
25.3
PR
28.0
Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

BS
92.5%
PR
87.3%

Bahamas generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BS
9.2%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BS
$39,455
PR
$40,620

Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Bahamas leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BS
74.7 yrs
PR
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BS
11.1
PR
6.0

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Bahamas across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance, Bahamas (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bahamas 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.

Bahamas passport

Bahamas passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Required
Bahamas passport holders need a visa to enter Puerto Rico.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

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?

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Bahamas across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 32.2 in Bahamas.

How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to Bahamas?

Bahamas generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in adult obesity rate.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Bahamas, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BS PR
Population 403,033 3,184,835
Currency Bahamian Dollar (BSD) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English English, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1242 +1
Time zones 1 1