Moving to Puerto Rico from Virginia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Virginia to Puerto Rico? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Virginia to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 23.5% cheaper than Virginia. A $75,000 salary in Virginia would need to be roughly $61,216 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Virginia and Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $61,216

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 28.7% less

Groceries

pay 4.3% less

Transportation

pay 19.1% less

Housing

pay 11.7% less

Childcare

pay 69.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 26.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Puerto Rico

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Virginia to Puerto Rico.

Living there in 2020
159,515 ↓ 3% vs 2015

people born in United States 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

The numbers behind daily life in Puerto Rico compared to Virginia.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

VA
90.1%
PR
77.7%

Virginia performs better than Puerto Rico across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

VA
3.4%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capitaBureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

VA
$69,111
PR
$43,000

Virginia performs better than Puerto Rico across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyOECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

VA
77.6 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Virginia across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United States passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Puerto Rico without a visa.

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 Virginia?

On average Puerto Rico is about 18% less expensive than Virginia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

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

Budget about $15,304 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

From major Puerto Rico cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Virginia and Puerto Rico are what actually decide it long-term.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

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

Share this

At a Glance

PR
Population8,001,0243,098,423
CurrencyUnited States Dollar ($)United States Dollar ($)
LanguagesEnglishEnglish, Spanish
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+1+1
Time zones111
Emergency number911