Moving to Kentucky from Puerto Rico

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Puerto Rico to Kentucky — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Puerto Rico to Kentucky, you would find that Kentucky is 4.2% more expensive than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly $78,200 in Kentucky to maintain the same lifestyle.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Kentucky cheaper than Puerto Rico?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 1.5% more

Groceries

pay 16.1% less

Transportation

pay 6.0% less

Housing

pay 6.6% more

Childcare

pay 2.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 40.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown

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 Kentucky?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → $78,200

To maintain the same standard of living in Kentucky

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Kentucky

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Puerto Rico to Kentucky, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2018
1 ↓ 83% vs 2017

people moved from Puerto Rico to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Puerto Rico and Kentucky stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

PR
42.4%
KY
38.2%

Kentucky performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access World Bank, 2023

share of households with internet

PR
87.3%
KY
87.4%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PR
6.0%
KY
3.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PR
$40,620
KY
$50,135

Kentucky performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

PR
81.9 yrs
KY
73.5 yrs

Puerto Rico performs better than Kentucky across all family life metrics.

Can you move from Puerto Rico to Kentucky?

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Free
United States 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 Kentucky than Puerto Rico?

Day-to-day costs in Kentucky run about 4% higher than Puerto Rico on average; specific cities can swing further.

How much money do I need to move to Kentucky?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around $19,550 in Kentucky for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Kentucky?

Working remotely from Kentucky's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Puerto Rico and Kentucky.

How is healthcare in Kentucky compared to Puerto Rico?

Kentucky performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What language do they speak in Kentucky?

The official language in Kentucky is English. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

PR
Population 3,184,835 4,606,864
Currency United States Dollar ($) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, Spanish English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number — 911