Is it cheaper to live in Puerto Rico than the US?

Puerto Rico is marginally cheaper than the US national average and dramatically cheaper than major US metros. PR moderate is $3,600 per person per month versus the US average of $3,525, a near tie (PR runs about 2 percent above). The headline conceals significant variation. PR is much cheaper than New York ($5,775), Boston ($5,225), and Los Angeles ($5,050), and roughly tied with Miami ($3,575). It is more expensive than mainland low-cost states like Mississippi ($3,025) or Alabama ($3,100), and tied with Florida ($3,575). The composition matters: PR housing in metro San Juan runs above the mainland mean but well below coastal metro pricing, while groceries run 15 to 30 percent above mainland prices because of import dependence. Utilities run higher because of LUMA Energy rates. For a mainland-coastal-metro mover, PR is meaningfully cheaper; for a mainland-low-cost-state mover, it is not. For the full breakdown, see our Puerto Rico cost of living page.