Moving to Puerto Rico from Spain
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Spain to Puerto Rico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Spain to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 11.7% more expensive than Spain overall. A €65,700 salary in Spain would need to be roughly $75,068 in Puerto Rico 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 Spain to Puerto Rico.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → $75,068
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 16.5% less
Groceries
pay 55.1% more
Transportation
pay 24.1% less
Housing
pay 45.6% more
Childcare
pay 7.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.8% 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 Spain to Puerto Rico, based on official data.
Who's moving to Puerto Rico?
Top countries of origin for Puerto Rico's foreign-born residents.
- 159,515
- 46,905
- 12,637
- 4,039
-
5.2,604
Spain
- 2,094
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Spain to Puerto Rico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Spain performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Spain performs better than Puerto Rico 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
Spain 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
Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain leads in gdp per capita.
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
Spain performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.
Data: Agencia Tributaria, Spain, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Spain 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.
Spain passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Puerto Rico than Spain?
Costs in Puerto Rico and Spain are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.
How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,767 in Puerto Rico on a €65,700 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Puerto Rico has 21.0 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 Puerto Rico safe for expats?
Spain performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Spain.
What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?
The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Spain, the official languages are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish.
