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 49.5% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,000,000 salary in Japan would need to be roughly $114,000 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Puerto Rico cheaper than Japan?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.0 times more
Groceries
pay 37.3% more
Transportation
pay 0.3% less
Housing
pay 2.0 times more
Childcare
pay 26.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.4% 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.
What salary do you need in Puerto Rico?
What does your salary buy?
¥12,000,000 → $114,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Puerto Rico
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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.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.
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
Puerto Rico generally does better on infrastructure, though Japan leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment 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.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), National Tax Agency Japan (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this
Can you move from Japan to Puerto Rico?
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 50% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?
Budget about $28,500 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a ¥12,000,000 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: 28.0 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 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.
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.
