Moving to United States from Puerto Rico
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Puerto Rico to United States — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Puerto Rico to United States, you would find that United States is 52.2% more expensive than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly $100,746 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Puerto Rico to United States.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → $100,746
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 37.7% more
Groceries
pay 7.0% more
Transportation
pay 41.2% more
Housing
pay 56.1% more
Childcare
pay 2.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 46.1% 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?
How many people actually move from Puerto Rico to United States, based on official data.
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.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
-
5.1,829,251
Puerto Rico
- 1,410,659
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Puerto Rico to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Puerto Rico generally does better on safety, though United States leads in homicide rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs better than United States 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
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico leads in water stress level.
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
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in top income tax 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
United States generally does better on family life, though Puerto Rico leads in life expectancy.
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 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 holder visiting Puerto Rico
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United States than Puerto Rico?
No — United States is on average about 34% more expensive than Puerto Rico. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $25,186 in United States on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United States?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 37.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is United States safe for expats?
Puerto Rico generally does better on safety, though United States leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.2 in Puerto Rico.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.
