Moving to China from Puerto Rico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Puerto Rico to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Puerto Rico to China, you would find that China is 36.4% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly CN¥269,199 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Puerto Rico and China.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CN¥269,199
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 70.0% less
Groceries
pay 49.0% less
Transportation
pay 31.4% less
Housing
pay 73.3% less
Childcare
pay 22.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.5% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Puerto Rico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Puerto Rico generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs better than China 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 China 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 China 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
Puerto Rico generally does better on family life, though China leads in literacy rate.
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 China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.
China 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 China than Puerto Rico?
On average China is about 47% less expensive than Puerto Rico, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥67,300 for 3 months in China (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 China?
Connectivity is usually fine (China: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is China safe for expats?
Puerto Rico generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.2 in Puerto Rico.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.
