Moving to Puerto Rico from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Puerto Rico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 21.5% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly $58,900 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 ↓Is Puerto Rico cheaper than United States?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 21.8% less
Groceries
pay 7.1% more
Transportation
pay 11.4% less
Housing
pay 31.8% less
Childcare
pay 53.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 40.6% less
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 Puerto Rico?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → $58,900
To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Puerto Rico
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to Puerto Rico, based on official data.
people born in United States live in Puerto Rico · UN DESA
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Puerto Rico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Puerto Rico leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs significantly 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.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), Internal Revenue Service (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this
Can you move from United States to Puerto Rico?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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 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 Puerto Rico than United States?
Yes — Puerto Rico is on average about 22% cheaper than United States. 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 $14,725 in Puerto Rico on a $75,000 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 States generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in United States.
How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to United States?
United States 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 States, the official language is English.
