Moving to Puerto Rico from United Kingdom

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Puerto Rico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from United Kingdom to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 16.3% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £57,000 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly $63,100 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

£57,000 → $63,100

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 19.9% less

Groceries

pay 52.5% more

Transportation

pay 39.3% less

Housing

pay 18.8% less

Childcare

pay 54.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 44.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 1.32 USD (October 2026)

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 United Kingdom to Puerto Rico, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
74 ↓ 57% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom live in Puerto Rico · UN DESA

Who's moving to Puerto Rico?

Top countries of origin for Puerto Rico's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.1
PR
14.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
PR
12.5

United Kingdom performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

GB
27.4%
PR
42.4%
Suicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support

GB
9.6
PR
5.4

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
PR
4.8t

United Kingdom performs better than Puerto Rico across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GB
42.2
PR
28.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
PR
19.5%

United Kingdom performs 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

GB
4.8%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$57,602
PR
$40,620

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

GB
81.4 yrs
PR
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
4.1
PR
6.0

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), HM Revenue & Customs (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Puerto Rico.

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 Puerto Rico than United Kingdom?

Yes — Puerto Rico is on average about 16% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $15,775 in Puerto Rico on a £57,000 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 28.0 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?

United Kingdom performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

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At a Glance

GB PR
Population 69,487,000 3,184,835
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English English, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +1
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 —