Moving to Puerto Rico from Samoa

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Samoa to Puerto Rico. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

WS
6.2
PR
14.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

WS
9.6
PR
12.5

Samoa performs 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

WS
1.6t
PR
4.8t

Samoa performs better than Puerto Rico 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

WS
0.8
PR
21.0
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

WS
78.0%
PR
77.7%

Samoa generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

WS
9.8%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

WS
$6,000
PR
$43,000

Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Samoa leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

WS
75.2 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

WS
17.0
PR
6.0

Samoa generally does better on family life, though Puerto Rico leads in life expectancy.

Data: Ministry of Revenue, Samoa, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Samoa 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.

Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Required
Samoa passport holders need a visa to enter Puerto Rico.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

With 21.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Puerto Rico can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Samoa and Puerto Rico.

Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?

Samoa performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.2 in Samoa.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Samoa, the official languages are English and Samoan.

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At a Glance

WS PR
Population 206,179 3,098,423
Currency Samoan Tala (WST) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, Samoan English, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +685 +1
Time zones 1 1