Relocation · Data
What Puerto Rico actually costs
Census medians for the island and every one of its 78 towns, next to the U.S. figures — plus the context the averages hide: the 11.5% sales tax, the electricity bill, and the Jones Act premium on everything imported.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (tables B25064, B19013, B25077). Vintage: 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Median gross rent
$578/mo
US: $1,413/mo
59% below the U.S. median
Median household income
$26,297/yr
US: $80,734/yr
67% below the U.S. median
Median home value
$131,500
US: $332,700
60% below the U.S. median
Sales tax runs 11.5%
- Puerto Rico's sales-and-use tax (IVU) is 11.5% — 10.5% commonwealth + 1% municipal — higher than any U.S. state's base rate.
- Some categories carry reduced rates or exemptions (unprepared food, prescription medicines); verify current carve-outs with Hacienda before budgeting around them.
Sources: Hacienda — IVU (sales & use tax)
Electricity is the budget shock
- Residential electricity rates run well above the U.S. average — historically roughly double — so air-conditioning-heavy homes see mainland-unfamiliar bills. It's the main reason rooftop solar + battery is everywhere.
- Rates change with fuel-cost adjustments; check LUMA's current rate schedule and the EIA's state comparison for the live numbers rather than any fixed figure.
Sources: LUMA — current electric rates · EIA — electricity prices by state
Groceries & goods carry the Jones Act premium
- Cargo between U.S. ports must move on U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged ships (the Jones Act), which raises shipping costs to the island — groceries, appliances, vehicles, and building materials all price above mainland norms.
- Local produce, restaurants, and services are where the island is genuinely cheaper — the premium concentrates in imported goods.
How to read the table
- Figures are ACS 5-year medians — a stable multi-year blend, not this month's listings. Hot coastal markets (Condado, Dorado, Rincón) have moved faster than any survey captures.
- A dash means the Census suppressed the estimate (sample too small) — common for home values in the smallest towns.
- Median household income context matters: a town with $500 median rent and $18,000 median income is cheap to outsiders and expensive to its own residents. That tension is the housing debate in one row.
Sources: Census Bureau — about ACS estimates
Every town, side by side
Click a column to sort. Every town links to its full page — news, guide spots, and facts. A dash means the Census suppressed that estimate.
| Town | Rent | Income | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuntas | $425 | $19,549 | $94,300 |
| Aguada | $475 | $21,501 | $121,500 |
| Aguadilla | $509 | $21,540 | $150,800 |
| Aguas Buenas | $468 | $23,072 | $144,000 |
| Aibonito | $481 | $21,744 | $124,100 |
| Añasco | $576 | $24,436 | $116,300 |
| Arecibo | $531 | $23,635 | $116,700 |
| Arroyo | $472 | $21,186 | $89,900 |
| Barceloneta | $582 | $24,508 | $126,300 |
| Barranquitas | $505 | $23,407 | $117,800 |
| Bayamón | $703 | $31,354 | $149,100 |
| Cabo Rojo | $590 | $26,408 | $124,800 |
| Caguas | $659 | $31,379 | $151,000 |
| Camuy | $611 | $27,411 | $109,600 |
| Canóvanas | $568 | $29,642 | $118,600 |
| Carolina | $677 | $36,958 | $157,600 |
| Cataño | $564 | $25,508 | $144,500 |
| Cayey | $540 | $30,129 | $148,300 |
| Ceiba | $538 | $25,454 | $113,700 |
| Ciales | $431 | $22,586 | $96,500 |
| Cidra | $577 | $29,246 | $153,900 |
| Coamo | $521 | $22,045 | $99,900 |
| Comerío | $512 | $17,134 | $97,400 |
| Corozal | $497 | $23,797 | $119,700 |
| Culebra | $528 | $29,630 | $104,300 |
| Dorado | $715 | $36,391 | $169,900 |
| Fajardo | $625 | $25,563 | $121,400 |
| Florida | $688 | $22,332 | $111,000 |
| Guánica | $349 | $17,633 | $87,200 |
| Guayama | $436 | $20,402 | $108,200 |
| Guayanilla | $454 | $23,915 | $87,400 |
| Guaynabo | $901 | $46,731 | $226,800 |
| Gurabo | $678 | $42,216 | $158,500 |
| Hatillo | $595 | $28,146 | $134,800 |
| Hormigueros | $559 | $26,828 | $121,700 |
| Humacao | $568 | $27,038 | $120,100 |
| Isabela | $582 | $23,266 | $136,200 |
| Jayuya | $456 | $21,796 | $115,700 |
| Juana Díaz | $559 | $24,852 | $105,500 |
| Juncos | $577 | $29,863 | $120,100 |
| Lajas | $479 | $19,695 | $107,800 |
| Lares | $505 | $18,917 | $105,100 |
| Las Marías | $412 | $16,314 | $86,500 |
| Las Piedras | $565 | $25,232 | $127,500 |
| Loíza | $464 | $24,272 | $111,000 |
| Luquillo | $504 | $24,225 | $138,500 |
| Manatí | $538 | $22,683 | $120,500 |
| Maricao | $413 | $21,302 | $115,700 |
| Maunabo | $549 | $18,045 | $99,900 |
| Mayagüez | $484 | $18,295 | $111,600 |
| Moca | $512 | $23,586 | $132,100 |
| Morovis | $618 | $25,003 | $115,100 |
| Naguabo | $528 | $23,395 | $105,500 |
| Naranjito | $488 | $22,156 | $112,900 |
| Orocovis | $499 | $20,302 | $100,500 |
| Patillas | $543 | $24,396 | $90,300 |
| Peñuelas | $489 | $22,697 | $89,600 |
| Ponce | $536 | $19,877 | $110,200 |
| Quebradillas | $521 | $24,640 | $112,500 |
| Rincón | $604 | $24,447 | $154,700 |
| Río Grande | $585 | $28,943 | $131,600 |
| Sabana Grande | $463 | $22,065 | $100,500 |
| Salinas | $530 | $21,901 | $88,700 |
| San Germán | $481 | $18,317 | $111,400 |
| San Juan | $611 | $27,992 | $171,200 |
| San Lorenzo | $579 | $22,847 | $113,900 |
| San Sebastián | $508 | $19,920 | $115,000 |
| Santa Isabel | $489 | $25,795 | $108,200 |
| Toa Alta | $690 | $35,241 | $163,900 |
| Toa Baja | $713 | $32,017 | $148,900 |
| Trujillo Alto | $694 | $40,055 | $164,500 |
| Utuado | $476 | $20,800 | $104,000 |
| Vega Alta | $667 | $25,538 | $140,700 |
| Vega Baja | $650 | $24,244 | $122,700 |
| Vieques | $430 | $19,803 | $100,000 |
| Villalba | $517 | $26,286 | $104,200 |
| Yabucoa | $489 | $22,944 | $97,800 |
| Yauco | $551 | $24,255 | $100,200 |
Common questions
- How much does it cost to live in Puerto Rico?
- Housing is the big saving. As of 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Puerto Rico's median gross rent is about $578 a month versus $1,413 on the U.S. mainland, and the median home value is $131,500 versus $332,700. The trade-offs: median household income is lower (about $26,297 a year), and imported goods, electricity, and an 11.5% sales tax push everyday costs up.
- Is Puerto Rico cheaper than the mainland United States?
- On housing, clearly yes — median rent and home values run well below mainland figures. But groceries, cars, and most consumer goods are shipped in (the Jones Act adds a premium), electricity is expensive, and the 11.5% sales tax is the highest of any U.S. jurisdiction. Whether it's cheaper overall depends on your lifestyle and how much you buy imported.
- What is the sales tax in Puerto Rico?
- Puerto Rico's sales-and-use tax (IVU) is 11.5% — the highest rate of any U.S. state or territory. Most goods and many services are taxed; some groceries and prescription medicines are exempt.
- Do you pay U.S. federal income tax if you live in Puerto Rico?
- Bona fide residents of Puerto Rico generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax on income sourced within Puerto Rico — they file locally with Hacienda instead. Act 60 offers additional incentives for qualifying new residents and businesses; see our Act 60 explainer for the eligibility and obligations.
These are survey estimates (medians), not price quotes — small towns carry wide margins of error, and the ACS lags fast-moving markets. Verify anything you'd sign a lease over.