How Puerto Rico compares across key indices
Cost of Living
90 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
55/100
Healthcare
74/100
Quality of Life
135/200
How far your money goes in Puerto Rico
Cost of Living
90
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
67
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
90
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
94
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Puerto Rico - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
55/100
Crime Index
58/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Puerto Rico has 21 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,776 in Fajardo to $2,212 in San Juan. Fajardo leads on safety, scoring 59/100. Fajardo ranks highest for quality of life at 135/200.
Fajardo
$1,776/mo
Fajardo
59/100
Fajardo
135/200
San Juan
82/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | $2,212 | 52/100 | 130/200 | 82/100 | 18 |
| BayamĂłn | $1,908 | 56/100 | 133/200 | 74/100 | 12 |
| Carolina | $1,892 | 56/100 | 133/200 | 74/100 | 11 |
| Ponce | $1,871 | 57/100 | 133/200 | 73/100 | 10 |
| Arecibo | $1,829 | 58/100 | 134/200 | 72/100 | 9 |
| Caguas | $1,827 | 58/100 | 134/200 | 72/100 | 9 |
| Guaynabo | $1,821 | 58/100 | 134/200 | 71/100 | 8 |
| Trujillo Alto | $1,815 | 58/100 | 134/200 | 71/100 | 8 |
| MayagĂĽez | $1,811 | 58/100 | 134/200 | 71/100 | 8 |
| Fajardo | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Levittown | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Vega Baja | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Cataño | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Barceloneta | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Guayama | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Humacao | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Yauco | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Cayey | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Candelaria | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| ManatĂ | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
| Aguadilla | $1,776 | 59/100 | 135/200 | 70/100 | 6 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Puerto Rico. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
2
Verified records
0
Cities covered
4
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Puerto Rico
Recommended PartnerReal coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Puerto Rico
Pollution Index
14/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
7.2ug/m3
Good
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Puerto Rico, answered with data
Puerto Rico has a cost of living index of 90 relative to New York City (100). It is on par with or more expensive than major US cities. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,871 in Ponce and reach $2,212 in San Juan.
Ponce is the most affordable city in Puerto Rico in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,871 for a single person including rent. Carolina is the next most affordable at $1,892/mo.
Puerto Rico has a safety index of 55/100, making it moderately safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Ponce scores highest on safety at 57/100.
Ponce ranks highest for quality of life in Puerto Rico, scoring 133/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,871/mo for a single person.
Puerto Rico scores 74/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it good by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Puerto Rico has a pollution index of 14/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
Your pre-departure checklist for Puerto Rico
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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