Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Puerto Rico Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Puerto Rico

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in United Kingdom versus $1,563 in Puerto Rico.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,471 in United Kingdom versus $2,386 in Puerto Rico.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,579 in United Kingdom versus $3,209 in Puerto Rico.

Living in United Kingdom is roughly 51% more expensive than in Puerto Rico on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: United Kingdom 77% above, Puerto Rico 17% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,670 to $3,916, compared to $1,047$2,389 in Puerto Rico. City choice carries more weight in United Kingdom.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.23 £15.04
$14.85 $14.85
36.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.3 £65.6
$75.4 $75.4
17.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 £7.69
$9.23 $9.23
12.13%
Cappuccino
$4.77 £3.55
$3.18 $3.18
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 £1.82
$1.58 $1.58
54.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 £1.29
$1.28 $1.28
35.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.85 £5.09
$2.57 $2.57
166.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52 £4.84
$4.08 $4.08
59.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 £1.23
$2.03 $2.03
-18.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 £1.27
$3.12 $3.12
-45.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 £1.64
$2.27 $2.27
-2.64%
Eggs
$4.09 £3.04
$5.22 $5.22
-21.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.52 £7.08
$9.64 $9.64
-1.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.02 £6.71
$8.69 $8.69
3.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.18 £10.54
$11.27 $11.27
25.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 £2.20
$5.32 $5.32
-44.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 £1.25
$2.60 $2.60
-35.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 £2.11
$3.87 $3.87
-26.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.41 £2.53
$4.70 $4.70
-27.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 £1.26
$3.18 $3.18
-46.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 £1.17
$2.69 $2.69
-41.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 £0.84
$2.70 $2.70
-58.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 £1.14
$1.90 $1.90
-19.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.16 £14.99
$10.79 $10.79
86.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.47 £7.78
$15.53 $15.53
-32.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 £2.14
$2.38 $2.38
20.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 £2.45
$3.44 $3.44
-4.07%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.33 £2.48
$1.71 $1.71
94.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.3 £71.6
$40.24 $40.24
139.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.53 £4.11
$6.11 $6.11
-9.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 £1.19
$0.95 $0.95
68.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.51 £20.45
$27.30 $27.30
0.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 £1.41
$1.00 $1.00
90.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K £28.3K
$34.4K $34.4K
10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K £30.5K
$27.5K $27.5K
48.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$326 £242
$302 $302
7.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18 £12.77
$72.3 $72.3
-76.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.96 £31.94
$66.6 $66.6
-35.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.94 £34.15
$34.69 $34.69
32.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.87 £11.80
$33.76 $33.76
-52.99%
Cinema Ticket
$13.80 £10.26
$9.09 $9.09
51.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,723 £1,281
$427 $427
303.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K £15.5K
$7,604 $7,604
174.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.3 £67.1
$47.92 $47.92
88.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 £33.00
$46.08 $46.08
-3.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 £76.7
$86.4 $86.4
19.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 £76.3
$102 $102
0.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 £1,055
$825 $825
71.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,143 £850
$618 $618
85.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 £1,708
$1,548 $1,548
48.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,873 £1,392
$1,109 $1,109
68.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,728 £4,258
$5,917 $5,917
-3.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,339 £3,226
$2,418 $2,418
79.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,264 £2,427
$2,760 $2,760
18.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.75
5.62
2.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for United Kingdom: July 13, 2026

Last update for Puerto Rico: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,266 in United Kingdom, $430 in Puerto Rico. Capital cities: $2,937 in London vs $1,581 in San Juan.

National salary averages: $3,192 in United Kingdom, $2,399 in Puerto Rico. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 194% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 14% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 1214% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 33% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Puerto Rico.

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
United Kingdom vs Puerto Rico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Puerto Rico and United Kingdom?
At $1,718 per month in Puerto Rico and $2,793 in United Kingdom, there's a 63% 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 is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Puerto Rico: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United Kingdom is consistently higher than in Puerto Rico across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Puerto Rico or in United Kingdom?
In Puerto Rico, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in United Kingdom 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 Puerto Rico or to United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after: Puerto Rico wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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