Moving to Puerto Rico from Florida

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Florida to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 17.9% cheaper than Florida. A $75,000 salary in Florida would need to be roughly $64,067 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Florida to Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $64,067

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 28.2% less

Groceries

pay 4.1% more

Transportation

pay 15.4% less

Housing

pay 17.5% less

Childcare

pay 50.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 17.2% less

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?

How many people actually move from Florida to Puerto Rico, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
159,515 ↓ 3% vs 2015

people born in United States 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

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

FL
90.4%
PR
77.7%

Florida performs better than Puerto Rico across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FL
4.4%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capitaBureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

FL
$57,636
PR
$43,000

Florida performs better than Puerto Rico across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyOECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

FL
77.5 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs

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

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Puerto Rico without a visa.

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 Florida?

Yes — Puerto Rico is on average about 15% cheaper than Florida. 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 $16,017 in Puerto Rico on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

Usually fine from major cities in Puerto Rico. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

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At a Glance

PR
Population18,801,3103,098,423
CurrencyUnited States Dollar ($)United States Dollar ($)
LanguagesEnglishEnglish, Spanish
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+1+1
Time zones111
Emergency number911