Moving to Puerto Rico from Mexico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Mexico to Puerto Rico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Mexico to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 51.1% more expensive than Mexico overall. A MX$1,310,130 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly $102,703 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mexico and Puerto Rico.
What does your salary buy?
MX$1,310,130 → $102,703
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 28.1% more
Groceries
pay 55.3% more
Transportation
pay 3.1% less
Housing
pay 2.4 times more
Childcare
pay 83.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.8% 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 Mexico 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
- · · ·
-
7.1,831
Mexico
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Mexico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Mexico generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in homicide rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Mexico performs better than Puerto Rico 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 performs significantly better than Mexico across all infrastructure metrics.
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 Mexico 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Mexico generally does better on family life, though Puerto Rico leads in life expectancy.
Data: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico 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.
Mexico passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
Visa RequiredData: 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 Mexico?
On average Puerto Rico is around 37% pricier than Mexico, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?
Budget about $25,676 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a MX$1,310,130 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?
Mexico generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico.
What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?
The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Mexico, the official language is Spanish.
