For one person, living is cheaper in India: $391 a month against $1,938 in Puerto Rico, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Puerto Rico and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,938 in Puerto Rico versus $391 in India.
Puerto Rico $1,938
India $391
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,984 in Puerto Rico versus $620 in India.
Puerto Rico $2,984
India $620
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,029 in Puerto Rico versus $849 in India.
Puerto Rico $4,029
India $849
🌍
Living in Puerto Rico is roughly 396% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Puerto Rico (44% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.20$15.20
$2.14₹203
610.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4$79.4
$10.52₹999
654.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.96$9.96
$3.58₹340
178.21%
Cappuccino
$3.48$3.48
$1.67₹158
108.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$0.37₹35.48
362.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41$1.41
$0.15₹14.18
840.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.94$2.94
$1.84₹175
59.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58$4.58
$3.07₹292
49.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17$2.17
$0.62₹58.8
250.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40$3.40
$0.49₹46.73
593.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31$2.31
$0.63₹60.1
266.67%
Eggs
$5.89$5.89
$0.96₹90.7
513.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.29$11.29
$4.71₹447
139.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33$8.33
$2.92₹277
185.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.31$12.31
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$1.98₹188
124.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67$2.67
$0.68₹64.4
292.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38$4.38
$1.02₹97.2
329.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.40$4.40
$0.46₹43.78
856.52%
Potato(1kg)
$3.55$3.55
$0.34₹32.20
944.12%
Onion(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$0.41₹39.00
670.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.92$2.92
$0.43₹40.66
579.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$0.31₹29.73
500.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.98$11.98
$4.89₹464
144.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.36$15.36
$7.25₹688
111.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$1.71₹162
37.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62$3.62
$2.74₹260
32.12%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.25₹499
-
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23$1.23
$0.27₹25.86
355.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.45$30.45
$8.39₹797
262.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55$2.55
$1.03₹97.8
147.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54$1.54
$0.25₹23.49
516.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.38$42.38
$1.60₹152
2548.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.13₹107
-4.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K$40.1K
$12.6K₹1.2M
216.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K$29.5K
$20.1K₹1.9M
46.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$294$294
$37.55₹3,566
681.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.9$66.9
$3.47₹330
1829.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4$72.4
$7.15₹679
911.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.95$28.95
$14.58₹1,385
98.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06$14.06
$7.21₹684
95.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.07$10.07
$3.18₹302
216.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725$725
$56.8₹5,391
1177.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K$11.5K
$1,651₹156.7K
595.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0$57.0
$22.55₹2,141
152.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.49$48.49
$24.54₹2,330
97.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.4$92.4
$39.69₹3,769
132.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4$99.4
$29.84₹2,833
233.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,087$1,087
$141₹13.4K
671.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667$667
$89.7₹8,515
644.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,091$2,091
$325₹30.9K
543.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,289$1,289
$207₹19.7K
521.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,538$5,538
$1,214₹115.3K
356.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,484$2,484
$638₹60.6K
289.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Rico
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,751$2,751
$434₹41.2K
534.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
8.92
-27.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto Rico: October 11, 2026
Last update for India: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Puerto Rico
$667 34.5%
India
$90 23% ↓ 86.6%$578
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Rico
$433 22.3%
India
$48 12.3% ↓ 88.9%$385
🛒Groceries & Markets
Puerto Rico
$379 19.6%
India
$102 26.2% ↓ 73%$277
🍽Eating Out
Puerto Rico
$230 11.9%
India
$65 16.7% ↓ 71.6%$164
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Rico
$134 6.9%
India
$52 13.4% ↓ 60.8%$81
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Rico
$49 2.5%
India
$21 5.4% ↓ 57.3%$28
🚌Getting Around
Puerto Rico
$46 2.4%
India
$12 3% ↓ 74.2%$34
🏠Accommodation & Living
Puerto Rico
$1.3K 32%
India
$207 24.4% ↓ 83.9%$1.1K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Rico
$500 12.4%
India
$52 6.1% ↓ 89.7%$448
🛒Groceries & Markets
Puerto Rico
$873 21.7%
India
$221 26% ↓ 74.7%$653
🍽Eating Out
Puerto Rico
$864 21.5%
India
$179 21.1% ↓ 79.3%$685
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Rico
$297 7.4%
India
$117 13.7% ↓ 60.8%$181
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Rico
$112 2.8%
India
$49 5.8% ↓ 56.2%$63
🚌Getting Around
Puerto Rico
$94 2.3%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 74.3%$70
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $316 in Puerto Rico, $119 in India. Capital cities: $1,802 in San Juan vs $267 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $2,566 in Puerto Rico, $411 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 166% higher in Puerto Rico.
⭐Dining out costs 600% more in Puerto Rico.
⭐Public transport is 40% more expensive in India.
⭐Salaries are 524% higher in Puerto Rico, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Puerto Rico.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Puerto Rico vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Puerto Rico?
At $391 per month in India and $1,938 in Puerto Rico, there's a 396% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $316 in Puerto Rico and $119 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Puerto Rico?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Puerto Rico it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Puerto Rico?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Puerto Rico may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Puerto Rico vs other spots: cost of living compared