Thinking of Moving to Puerto Rico?

Question

I have heard that Puero Rico is not safe to move to. What are the safe areas? What about the cost of living? Is it very expensive to live there? Any other information or advice would be wonderful! Thanks so much!

Answer 1

OK I will try to be brief

I have just reloacted here and have been here for about 4 months.

Cost of living is like being in a large city in the States. Some areas have high crime, just like in the States

If you know Spanish that will be an enormous bonus (mine is limited, but I get by at work).

Try to have a job lined up. If not check out the usual - monster.com, careerbuilder.com and also clasificadosonline.com

Places to live:
It is as expensive as living in a major city (unless you want to live in the country). Again check out clasificadosonline for property to rent / buy. aslo check out http://homes.point2.com/US/Puerto-Rico-Real-Estate.aspx this has a good listing of property for all locations

Apartments / walkups cost anywhere from $180,000 upwards or about $1000 a month and upwards to rent (yes you could get cheaper, but then the place and location will not be as good).

If you are working in the San Juan area then as the other answer states there are several places you can check out. Just remember the further away you are from where you work, the longer you could be stuck in traffic. Dorado, Guaynabo, Bayamon etc...

Air conditioning is a must

Traffic here can be a nightmare (I have still not adjusted). Local drivers are inconsiderate and will just pull out or cross infront of you even when there is no gap in traffic. You just have to keep your eyes open at all times.

If you are not a US citizen or green card holder then you will need the same work permit as if you were in the States.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Hello Cidra, Villa de bosque and Cayey are very nice places to live, in fact some people can find Cidra too quiet, but it is still a beautiful place to live. About the crime, it does exist anywhere in the island and by all means anywhere in the planet. It just a fact of life. I think what you have to be concerned more is with the financial aspect because there is not enough job growth in the island. I am not saying in non existant, but that area is pretty good. And for the rest of the island , most people find living in San Juan is like living in New York. If you don't have the financial aspect to worry about, then you have a good chance to enjoy the island... the arroz con habichuelas, el mojito, the beaches, the tempeture (Cidra has one of the best climates) the mofongo, and everything else Puerto Rico has to offer. And you do need a car to get around! Hope this helps, Guasabara

Answer 3

As like many States of the US there are some better places than others to live in P. R. Puerto Rico is one of the most populated places in the world if you consider the population of near 4 millions in an island of 110 x 35 miles. At this moment the Island is living a semi-depression created by the incapacity of the government to put the economics in order.
The cost of living can be considerable (similar to the States) because recent taxes and the increasing of the basic living cost, like electricity, gas, water, etc. Nerveless is good moment to buy a property.If you're looking for jobs, especially the professional ones, they are in general in the Metropolitan area of San Juan. Guaynabo and San Juan are the most expensive places. Some people prefer to live in Caguas, Bayamon, Trujillo Alto or Carolina and work in San Juan. Remember that you will need a car because the public transportation can't serve all the places. In general is safe to live in the Island but there are places more "hot" than others like some areas of Trujillo Alto at this moment.
Puerto Rico is very beautiful with an extraordinary condensed nature. Beaches, Rain Forest, historic cities like Old San Juan and Ponce, excellent eating, shopping's, music, whatever you want. Puerto Ricans are in general happy people unless you're driving to slow on the express way.
Suerte!

Answer 4

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dude, your not going to get shot. I guaranteed you that. Honestly.Not even in daylight, that its stupid men. Crimes in Puerto Rico happen because of drugs so I highly recommend you to stay away from drugs, cause then you could probably get shot. cidra its a beautiful place and a beautiful town and everything. There is a great quality life here in Puerto Rico, except for the economic struggle we are going through, besides here you can Live and probably last longer here than being in another big city.

Answer 5

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RE:
Thinking of Moving to Puerto Rico?
I have heard that Puero Rico is not safe to move to. What are the safe areas? What about the cost of living? Is it very expensive to live there? Any other information or advice would be wonderful! Thanks so much!

Answer 6

Nowhere in this earth is safe enough to move to. But I have to admit that for a 100 x 35 miles island we have very high crime statistics. There are many bad neighborhoods, but you know it just driving by. There are mnay good ones, but they are expensive. Location, location, location. San Juan (Condado/Isla Verde Apts., Old San Juan), Guaynabo (almost all of it it's good, Torrimar, Mansiones,...), Hato Rey (Monte Mall, Baldrich). If you are not able to pay that much to live in a good neighborhood in the metro area you might want to look in nearby towns of Dorado, Cayey, and Cidra area.

It gets expensive when it comes to real estate, but the rest is pretty much the same. The bad thing is that salaries are very low, unless you are a DOCTOR, and engineer (decent salary, but not too high) or a lawyer (and they still would make more in the US - mainland).

About moving to Puerto Rico http://www.escapeartist.com/puerto/moving.html

Crime statistics by municipalities
http://www.tendenciaspr.com/Violencia/Tablas/DelitosTipo1/mayores_asesinatos.htm

For more reports:
http://www.tendenciaspr.com/Ingles/Violence.html

There is high crime, but there are so many other great things.... weather, people, nature... and after all you will find crime everywhere. And I am sure you adjust your lifestyle wherever you go (even on vacation) to keep yourself safe.

Good luck!