Moving to Puerto Rico from Dominican Republic

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 73.9% more expensive than Dominican Republic overall. A DOP4,408,790 salary in Dominican Republic would need to be roughly $117,120 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle.

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

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

DOP4,408,790 $117,120

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 91.5% more

Groceries

pay 2.1 times more

Transportation

pay 9.4% less

Housing

pay 2.5 times more

Childcare

pay 2.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 65.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 DOP = 0.017 USD (July 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.

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

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.

Living there in 2020
46,905 ↓ 19% vs 2015

people born in Dominican Republic live in Puerto Rico · UN DESA

Who's moving to Puerto Rico?

Top countries of origin for Puerto Rico's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Dominican Republic.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

DO
12.4
PR
14.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DO
27.4
PR
12.5

Dominican Republic generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DO
3.0t
PR
4.8t

Dominican Republic performs better than Puerto Rico across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

DO
10.7
PR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DO
39.5%
PR
19.5%

Puerto Rico generally does better on infrastructure, though Dominican Republic leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

DO
5.6%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DO
$23,100
PR
$43,000

Dominican Republic generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

DO
72.6 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DO
21.2
PR
6.0

Dominican Republic generally does better on family life, though Puerto Rico leads in life expectancy.

Data: Direccion General de Impuestos Internos, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Dominican Republic 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.

Dominican Republic passport

Dominican Republic passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Required
Dominican Republic 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

Is it cheaper to live in Puerto Rico than Dominican Republic?

On average Puerto Rico is around 56% pricier than Dominican Republic, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about $29,280 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a DOP4,408,790 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?

Dominican Republic generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.4 in Dominican Republic.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

Share this

At a Glance

DO PR
Population 10,694,700 3,098,423
Currency Dominican Peso (DOP) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Spanish English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911