Moving to Puerto Rico from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Puerto Rico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 35.4% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly $99,372 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Puerto Rico.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → $99,372
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 87.5% more
Groceries
pay 30.6% more
Transportation
pay 16.9% less
Housing
pay 74.9% more
Childcare
pay 13.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.4% more
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 Japan to Puerto Rico.
Who's moving to Puerto Rico?
Top countries of origin for Puerto Rico's foreign-born residents.
- 159,515
- 46,905
- 12,637
- 4,039
- 2,604
- 2,094
- · · ·
-
31.35
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Japan across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Japan generally does better on family life, though Puerto Rico leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Japan?
On average Puerto Rico is around 32% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?
Budget about $24,843 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a ¥12,124,875 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?
Japan performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?
The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
