Moving to Puerto Rico from Israel

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Israel to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 20.1% cheaper than Israel overall. A ₪221,768 salary in Israel would need to be roughly $56,491 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Spanish.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

₪221,768 $56,491

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 39.5% less

Groceries

pay 27.9% more

Transportation

pay 39.4% less

Housing

pay 14.9% more

Childcare

pay 38.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 32.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ILS = 0.3382 USD (June 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

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
19 ↓ 58% vs 2015

people born in Israel 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 Israel to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IL
1.6
PR
14.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IL
4.2
PR
12.5

Israel performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IL
5.8t
PR
4.8t

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Israel 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

IL
29.4
PR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IL
132.0%
PR
19.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$48,300
PR
$43,000

Israel generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
83.3 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IL
3.6
PR
6.0

Israel performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.

Data: Israel Ministry of Finance Tax Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Israel 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.

Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Israel passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) 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 Israel?

Yes — Puerto Rico is on average about 25% cheaper than Israel. 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 $14,123 in Puerto Rico on a ₪221,768 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Puerto Rico has 21.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?

Israel performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Israel.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Israel, the official languages are Arabic and Hebrew.

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At a Glance

IL PR
Population 8,914,885 3,098,423
Currency Israeli New Sheqel (₪) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +972 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 100