Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Rico: $2,054 a month against $2,462 in the United Kingdom, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,462
/mo nomad
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
$2,054
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United Kingdom and in Puerto Rico

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United Kingdom and in Puerto Rico actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in the United Kingdom versus $2,054 in Puerto Rico.

  • United Kingdom $2,462
  • Puerto Rico $2,054

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,600 in the United Kingdom versus $3,047 in Puerto Rico.

  • United Kingdom $3,600
  • Puerto Rico $3,047

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,738 in the United Kingdom versus $4,040 in Puerto Rico.

  • United Kingdom $4,738
  • Puerto Rico $4,040

Internal cost variation is higher in the United Kingdom: monthly costs span $1,126 to $4,646, compared to $1,068–$2,500 in Puerto Rico. City choice carries more weight in the United Kingdom.

Living in the United Kingdom is roughly 20% more expensive than in Puerto Rico on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: the United Kingdom 81% above, Puerto Rico 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.48 £16.05
$15.25 $15.25
40.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7 £64.0
$78.9 $78.9
8.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.61 £7.93
$10.20 $10.20
4.02%
Cappuccino
$4.91 £3.67
$3.53 $3.53
39.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 £1.99
$1.66 $1.66
60.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 £1.39
$1.35 $1.35
38.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.63 £4.95
$2.97 $2.97
123.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 £5.11
$4.61 $4.61
48.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 £1.26
$2.18 $2.18
-22.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 £1.28
$3.29 $3.29
-47.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 £1.62
$2.21 $2.21
-1.81%
Eggs
$4.00 £2.99
$6.09 $6.09
-34.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 £7.04
$11.17 $11.17
-15.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 £6.86
$8.38 $8.38
9.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.77 £11.03
$12.46 $12.46
18.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 £2.21
$4.70 $4.70
-36.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 £1.21
$2.65 $2.65
-38.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.85 £2.13
$4.37 $4.37
-34.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.52 £2.63
$4.59 $4.59
-23.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 £1.37
$3.51 $3.51
-47.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 £1.20
$3.21 $3.21
-49.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 £0.93
$2.97 $2.97
-57.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 £1.24
$1.80 $1.80
-7.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.65 £17.66
$11.76 $11.76
101.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.50 £7.84
$15.41 $15.41
-31.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 £2.23
$2.35 $2.35
26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 £2.62
$3.57 $3.57
-1.68%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 £2.97
$0.89 $0.89
347.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$107 £80.2
$30.39 $30.39
253.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.18 £3.87
$2.45 $2.45
111.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 £1.75
$1.53 $1.53
53.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.84 £20.04
$41.72 $41.72
-35.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 £1.48
$1.04 $1.04
91.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K £29.5K
$39.7K $39.7K
-0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K £30.2K
$28.8K $28.8K
40.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$327 £244
$294 $294
11.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.21 £13.60
$68.6 $68.6
-73.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.60 £32.56
$71.2 $71.2
-38.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.36 £31.63
$28.85 $28.85
46.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.22 £13.61
$13.72 $13.72
32.80%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85 £10.34
$9.87 $9.87
40.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,868 £1,395
$708 $708
163.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K £16.9K
$11.2K $11.2K
102.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.9 £69.4
$57.5 $57.5
61.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.92 £34.30
$47.49 $47.49
-3.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 £75.9
$93.4 $93.4
8.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 £76.4
$98.1 $98.1
4.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,342 £1,003
$1,202 $1,202
11.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,073 £802
$782 $782
37.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,231 £1,667
$2,319 $2,319
-3.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,742 £1,301
$1,297 $1,297
34.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,601 £4,183
$6,281 $6,281
-10.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,265 £3,185
$3,615 $3,615
17.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Puerto Rico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,349 £2,502
$2,811 $2,811
19.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
6.51
-18.28%

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

Last update for the United Kingdom: October 26, 2026

Last update for Puerto Rico: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
$1.1K
Puerto Rico
$782 27.1% $291
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
$389
Puerto Rico
$434 11.6% $45
Eating Out
United Kingdom
$328
Puerto Rico
$231 29.5% $97
Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
$307
Puerto Rico
$381 23.9% $73
Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
$154
Puerto Rico
$133 13.5% $21
Getting Around
United Kingdom
$140
Puerto Rico
$44 68.6% $96
Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
$70
Puerto Rico
$49 30.6% $21

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,287 in the United Kingdom, $898 in Puerto Rico. Capital cities: $2,811 in London vs $1,934 in San Juan.

National salary averages: $3,251 in the United Kingdom, $2,576 in Puerto Rico. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 43% higher in the United Kingdom.

Public transport is 166% more expensive in the United Kingdom.

Salaries are 26% higher in the United Kingdom.

Good to know
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
🕒 Local time
06:27 6:27 AM
02:27 2:27 AM
4 h behind the United Kingdom
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
67,326,569
3,285,874
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.747 GBP (1 GBP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.836 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United Kingdom Puerto Rico 6,760 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United Kingdom
  • 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
United Kingdom vs Puerto Rico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom?
At $2,054 per month in Puerto Rico and $2,462 in the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico comes out about 17% cheaper. 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 $1,287 in the United Kingdom and $898 in Puerto Rico. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Puerto Rico or in the United Kingdom?
In Puerto Rico, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in the 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 the United Kingdom?
It depends on what you’re after: Puerto Rico wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.

United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared

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