Moving to Puerto Rico from Canada
What to Expect
Considering a move from Canada to Puerto Rico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Canada to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 7.4% cheaper than Canada overall. A CA$106,294 salary in Canada would need to be roughly $69,265 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Canada and Puerto Rico.
What does your salary buy?
CA$106,294 → $69,265
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 13.1% less
Groceries
pay 15.0% more
Transportation
pay 15.7% less
Housing
pay 9.6% more
Childcare
pay 28.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 19.3% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Canada to Puerto Rico.
Who's moving to Puerto Rico?
Top countries of origin for Puerto Rico's foreign-born residents.
- 159,515
- 46,905
- 12,637
- 4,039
- 2,604
- 2,094
- · · ·
-
28.51
Canada
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Canada.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Canada performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Canada 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
Canada 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
Canada performs better than Puerto Rico across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Canada performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.
Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada 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.
Canada passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
Visa FreeData: 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 Canada?
On average Puerto Rico is about 8% less expensive than Canada, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?
Budget about $17,316 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a CA$106,294 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: 21.0 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?
Canada performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada.
What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?
The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
