Moving to Canada from Puerto Rico

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Puerto Rico to Canada? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Puerto Rico to Canada, you would find that Canada is 20.5% more expensive than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly CA$113,916 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Puerto Rico and Canada.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CA$113,916

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 15.8% more

Groceries

pay 6.6% less

Transportation

pay 37.9% more

Housing

pay 22.1% more

Childcare

pay 41.3% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 29.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (July 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Puerto Rico to Canada.

Living there in 2020
541 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in Puerto Rico live in Canada · UN DESA

Who's moving to Canada?

Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Canada compared to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PR
14.2
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PR
12.5
CA
4.7

Canada performs significantly 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

PR
4.8t
CA
14.0t

Puerto Rico performs better than Canada 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

PR
21.0
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PR
19.5%
CA
3.7%

Canada performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PR
6.0%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PR
$43,000
CA
$55,800

Canada 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

PR
81.7 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PR
6.0
CA
4.4

Canada performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.

Data: Puerto Rican Department of Treasury, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Puerto Rico and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter Puerto Rico without a visa.

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 Canada than Puerto Rico?

On average Canada is around 8% pricier than Puerto Rico, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

Budget about CA$28,479 for 3 months in Canada (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Canada?

Connectivity is usually fine (Canada: 42.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Canada offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Canada safe for expats?

Canada performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.2 in Puerto Rico.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.

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At a Glance

PR CA
Population 3,098,423 38,232,593
Currency United States Dollar ($) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages English, Spanish English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 911