Moving to Puerto Rico from Belgium

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Belgium to Puerto Rico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Belgium to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 6.6% cheaper than Belgium overall. A €67,000 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly $70,300 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Puerto Rico cheaper than Belgium?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 30.5% less

Groceries

pay 36.3% more

Transportation

pay 26.7% less

Housing

pay 7.0% more

Childcare

pay 40.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 30.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Puerto Rico?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → $70,300

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Puerto Rico

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Belgium to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
PR
14.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
PR
12.5

Belgium performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

BE
20.9%
PR
42.4%
Suicide rate World Bank, 2021

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

BE
18.4
PR
5.4

Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
PR
4.8t

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Belgium across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BE
44.2
PR
28.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
52.8%
PR
19.5%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.9%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$60,750
PR
$40,620

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BE
82.3 yrs
PR
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.1
PR
6.0

Belgium performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.

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

Can you move from Belgium to Puerto Rico?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium 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.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Belgium passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Puerto Rico.

Data: 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 Belgium?

Yes — Puerto Rico is on average about 7% cheaper than Belgium. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $17,575 in Puerto Rico on a €67,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Puerto Rico has 28.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium.

How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to Belgium?

Belgium 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 Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

Share this

At a Glance

BE PR
Population 11,941,781 3,184,835
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Dutch, French, German English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +32 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 —