Moving to Puerto Rico from Illinois
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Illinois to Puerto Rico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Illinois to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 19.1% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly $70,888 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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Illinois to Puerto Rico.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → $70,888
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 19.7% less
Groceries
pay 15.8% more
Transportation
pay 19.3% less
Housing
pay 10.4% less
Childcare
pay 65.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.7% 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?
How many people actually move from Illinois to Puerto Rico, based on official data.
people born in United States live in Puerto Rico · UN DESA
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Illinois to Puerto Rico.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois 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
Illinois performs better than Puerto Rico across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Illinois 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 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 Illinois?
Yes — Puerto Rico is on average about 5% cheaper than Illinois. 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 $17,722 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 Illinois, the official language is English.
