Can I live in Puerto Rico on Social Security?

Yes, US Social Security is fully payable to recipients living in Puerto Rico, and PR is one of the easiest international-feel retirement options for Americans (it is a US territory, no immigration paperwork required). The financial picture depends on benefit size. Average US Social Security retirement benefit sits around $1,900 to $2,100 per month in 2026, which covers PR’s budget-tier benchmark of $2,160 per person per month comfortably but falls short of the moderate benchmark ($3,600) by roughly $1,500 to $1,700 a month. Most retirees making PR work on Social Security alone either pair it with a modest pension or 401(k) draw, share housing with a partner (doubling household income while modestly raising costs), or move outside the San Juan metro to Caguas, Ponce, or smaller towns where one-bedrooms drop to $900 to $1,500. For the full retirement cost picture, see our Puerto Rico cost of living page.