How much does it cost to live in Puerto Rico?


If you’ve fallen in love with Puerto Rico and planning to relocate here, it is imperative that you have a thorough understanding of the cost of living on this stunning Caribbean Island. 

You must be ready to spend at least $1580 a month to live a comfortable life in Puerto Rico. 

And if you are with a family of 4, the estimated cost of living in Puerto Rico is approximately $3633 a month.

You will need to hammer out an arrangement for budgeting to enjoy an incredible work-life balance.

This estimated cost to live in Puerto Rico is 1.22 times less expensive than the average in the USA. 

Don’t be surprised to know that the cost of living in Puerto Rico is 52% less expensive than in New York.

If you relocate to New York instead of Puerto Rico, you will have to pay at least 30% more for restaurants, 34% more for transportation, and 66% more for housing. 

Is Puerto Rico expensive?

The cost of living in Puerto Rico is, on the whole, low and significantly lower than in the USA.

On average, $1580 will be enough for a single person to enjoy a good living. 

However, compared to other Caribbean Islands, the cost of living in Puerto Rico is higher. 

You can choose to live in a luxurious apartment basking in the lavish lifestyle or rent a flat and save for a rainy day.

You can travel on the tight bight, eat cheap and stay cheap while in Puerto Rico.

Additionally, you can cook your own meal to save some bucks. 

That way, Puerto Rico is affordable. Let’s figure out the cost of rent, food, and transportation in Puerto Rico without further ado.

How expensive is accommodation in Puerto Rico?

The average cost of rent in Puerto Rico is $800 a month for a single person. 

You will find it much cheaper to rent a one-bedroom apartment in a small town than renting the same size apartment in a city area.

To give you an idea of the cost of accommodation in Puerto Rico, a private apartment in Rincon starts at around $700. 

Similarly, a private villa in the city area can cost you $1800. 

The estimated expense for accommodation in Puerto Rico can range anywhere between $24 and $200 per night.

Digital nomads will find that the cost of accommodation will eat a large chunk of their budget. However, renting apartments is an appealing alternative to opting for luxury resorts or villas. 

How expensive is food in Puerto Rico?

You can estimate paying $20 – $60 USD per day for food expenses.

In general, $471 is enough for your monthly food budget in Puerto Rico. 

You can always make eating in Puerto Rico less expensive.

A basic meal at a restaurant can cost you $14; a bottle of Coke comes at just $1.5, and street food will cost around $5.

What is the cost of transportation in Puerto Rico? 

On average, expats and digital nomads can expect to spend around $62 for transportation. 

A ride on an AMA bus system will cost you as low as $0.75. 

You can also opt for a car rental that costs around $25.

Taxi is readily available everywhere, and traveling around the cities is easy with Publico System.

A one-way trip on the Urban Train is convenient and cheaper as well; it costs $1.50 only.

Traveling around on local buses only costs a couple of dollars.