Moving to Puerto Rico from Venezuela

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Venezuela to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 2.6 times more expensive than Venezuela overall. A VEF748,088 salary in Venezuela would need to be roughly $124,485 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 Venezuela to Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

VEF748,088 $124,485

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 37.4% more

Groceries

pay 60.1% more

Transportation

pay 22.2% more

Housing

pay 6.8 times more

Childcare

pay 4.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 96.8% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 VEF = 0.1003 USD (July 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 Venezuela to Puerto Rico, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
994 ↓ 57% vs 2015

people born in Venezuela 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 Venezuela to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

VE
12.6
PR
14.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VE
13.2
PR
12.5

Venezuela generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VE
3.4t
PR
4.8t

Venezuela 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

VE
9.6
PR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

VE
7.5%
PR
19.5%

Venezuela 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

VE
5.5%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VE
$7,704
PR
$43,000

Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Venezuela leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VE
73.3 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VE
17.7
PR
6.0

Puerto Rico generally does better on family life, though Venezuela leads in literacy rate.

Data: Ministerio del Poder Popular de Finanzas, SENIAT, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Venezuela 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.

Venezuela passport

Venezuela passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Required
Venezuela 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

Is it cheaper to live in Puerto Rico than Venezuela?

No — Puerto Rico is on average about 66% more expensive than Venezuela. City-level variation matters.

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

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $31,121 in Puerto Rico on a VEF748,088 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?

Venezuela generally does better on safety, though Puerto Rico leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.6 in Venezuela.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

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At a Glance

VE PR
Population 29,789,730 3,098,423
Currency Venezuelan Bolívar Fuerte (VEF) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Spanish English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +58 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 171