Moving to Puerto Rico from Ecuador

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ecuador to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 95.2% more expensive than Ecuador overall. A $75,000 salary in Ecuador would need to be roughly $132,043 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $132,043

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.4 times more

Groceries

pay 2.4 times more

Transportation

pay 28.2% more

Housing

pay 3.2 times more

Childcare

pay 92.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 46.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown

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 Ecuador to Puerto Rico.

Living there in 2020
348 ↓ 59% vs 2015

people born in Ecuador 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 Ecuador.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

EC
27.0
PR
14.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

EC
23.4
PR
12.5

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EC
2.6t
PR
4.8t

Ecuador 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

EC
15.0
PR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EC
6.8%
PR
19.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

EC
3.4%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

EC
$14,300
PR
$43,000

Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Ecuador leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

EC
77.5 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EC
18.1
PR
6.0

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

Data: Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ecuador 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.

Ecuador passport

Ecuador passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Required
Ecuador 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 Ecuador?

On average Puerto Rico is around 76% pricier than Ecuador, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about $33,011 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a $75,000 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: 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?

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 27.0 in Ecuador.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

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At a Glance

EC PR
Population 17,289,554 3,098,423
Currency United States Dollar ($) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Spanish English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +593 +1
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 911