North America · San Juan
Cost of living in Puerto Rico (US)
Puerto Rico (US) is 21% cheaper than the US, ranking #31 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $79,500 in Puerto Rico (US).
Quality of life
85/100 · #75 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Puerto Rico (US)
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948.
Read the full background
In 1952, a constitution was enacted that provided for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for statehood.Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. In 2017, Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Puerto Rico (US) expensive to live in?
Puerto Rico (US) is 21% cheaper than the US, ranking #31 of the 203 countries we track.
How much money do you need to live in Puerto Rico (US)?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $79,500 in Puerto Rico (US), going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Puerto Rico (US) cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 79.5, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Puerto Rico (US)?
Puerto Rico (US) scores 85 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#75 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 82 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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