Puerto Rico is an amazing island in the Caribbean that a lot of people visit to get away from winter on the mainland. It has a thriving tourism industry and lots of things to do which keep you busy for days on end. The tropical atmosphere, great beaches and amazing water make it the perfect place for your next vacation. If you are thinking about moving to Puerto Rico then you must have wondered which are the best places to live in Puerto Rico. This article is the complete guide to the best places to live in Puerto Rico. The post has all of the information about each of the cities that I have listed including affordability, transportation and the status of the expat community in the city. Puerto Rico is one of the best places to travel in the US and equally amazing to live in. To figure out the best places to live in Puerto Rico, continue reading my guide below.
Best places to live in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has 78 municipalities out of which only 14 are official cities. The best places to live are the 18 places below. I have noted down all of the details for each city including affordability, the monthly cost of living, cost of rent, safety, livability, transportation, crime rate and the expat community in the city. The 18 cities below have a really good community and are a great place to live if you are planning to make a move.
San Juan
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and the biggest city on the island. It has lots of social places including clubs, restaurants and a lot of historical sites especially in Old San Juan. Because it’s the capital city you will also find really convenient supermarkets that are open 24/7. This is where the biggest expat community on the entire Island lives. It has a very Miami vibe with lots of fancy clubs and casinos right on the beach. For people coming from bigger cities on the mainland it is the perfect place to set up your base. It has lots of neighborhoods, some cheaper and some more expensive that you can choose to live in. Santurce and Condado are two of my favorites.
Rincon
Rincon on the west coast of the island is known as the surf destination on the island. It is one of the best places to live for surfers. In the winter a lot of surfers come to town from the mainland and all over the world to surf Tres Palmas. The surf brings a lot of tourists to the town which the locals do not like. Other than the surf community the people in Rincon are really warm and welcoming. There is a really small town center which has a cute little art market every Thursday night. Other than this there are no night events or clubs in town. Rincon does have a lot of really good restaurants around that you can try. The best thing about this city is the multiple places where you can snorkel, go fishing or surf year round.
Isla Verde
The municipality of Isla Verde is right outside of the capital city of San Juan. It has some really amazing beaches with clear water and soft sand that are really popular among the tourists and expats alike. There is a huge expat community here. If you live here you will find it really easy to make friends and find your own community. It is a safe place to live and has a lot of private beaches they you can enjoy without the crowds. There are also lots of shops, restaurants and bars nearby.
Culebra
Culebra is an island around 27 km off the east coast of Puerto Rico. It is one of the most interesting and pristine places in Puerto Rico. The snorkeling here is one of the best on the island. Because only 2000 people live on this island it tends to be really quiet because of the small population. You might not find all of the conveniences like 24 hours supermarkets that you can find in the main city. If you love nature and want to really immerse yourself in a city that is away from the crowds and has pristine nature then Culebra is the place where you want to be.
Ponce
Ponce is a gorgeous city on the south coast of Puerto Rico. Ponce has a lot of history that can be seen in its amazing architecture, all restaurants and monuments. The coffee plantations right outside of the city make for a great day trip. Ponce also has one of the bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico which are very rare. Ponce has an old time charm that is impossible to resist. For those that want a quiet town to retire on the island that is still on the map, Ponce is perfect.
Mayaguez
Plaza de Colon in Mayaguez is one of the most beautiful town centers in Puerto Rico. This city is really rich in history and in architecture. It also has the best skate park on the whole island right next to the beach. All the kids come here every night to skate. You can also get to Desecheo Island and Isla de Mona from here for some amazing diving. Mayaguez is a local town that does not have any expats so you will get a local experience of how life actually is for the locals. You will still find 24 hour supermarkets, bars and restaurants here.
Dorado
Dorado is one of the safest cities in Puerto Rico. It is only 25 miles from the capital city of San Juan. The town has a huge crypto community of expats that moved here for the crypto benefits under Act 20/22. It has lots of private beaches for swimming and surfing. You can catch some really good surf during the winter months. Dorado is known for having luxury resorts that rich white people preferred to go to.There has been significant controversy about the town because they have gated beaches and do not let locals have access to the beaches anymore.
Caguas
Caguas in the middle of the island is one city that most people overlook when they are deciding where to move in Puerto Rico. It has a rich culture and a really vibrant local community. It has a population of 127000. From your base in Caguas you will be able to travel around the entire island, go to any of the beaches and also visit some of the most interesting waterfalls in the middle of the island. If you prefer living in the jungle to living besides the ocean then Caguas is a great option for you.
Guaynabo
Guaynabo is also one of the biggest cities in Puerto Rico. It has a really low cost of living and lots of options for nightlife, bars and restaurants. The city is also really close to San Juan so if you need to visit the city at any point you will not need to make a long drive. There are however almost no expats that live here so you might have a hard time making friends and integrating with the community.
Rio Grande
The city of Rio Grande is right next to the famous El Yunque rainforest that almost all of the tourists coming to Puerto Rico visit. If you love waterfalls, rivers and some really amazing jungle around you then Rio Grande is the perfect setting in the middle of the a beautiful rainforest in Puerto Rico.
Carolina
Carolina is an intimate city right next to the Luiz Munoz Marin International Airport near San Juan. It has my favorite beach – Balneario de Carolina. The city is also close to bars, restaurants and all the amenities of San Juan but still away from the crowds so you don’t have to deal with tourists when you are trying to sleep late at night. It is a stone’s throw away from all the cool places in San Juan and you are provided a private intimate place to live.
Humacao
The town of Humacao has the largest resort in Puerto Rico – Palmas del Mar. Set in the east coast of Puerto Rico it is a gorgeous coastal town that a lot of tourists prefer to visit. This is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts.
Fajardo
The city of Fajardo on the north east coast of Puerto Rico is known for its amazing snorkeling and beaches. The city is set at the base of El Yunque. The Seven Seas Beach is known for having a really good variety of sea life. Fajardo is also where all the ferries to Cayo Icacos, Vieques and Culebra leave from. It has great options for stays and restaurants around the area. It is a very nice and pretty place.
Arecibo
One of the bigger cities in Puerto Rico is Arecibo. It has some beautiful beaches like Poza del Obispo. It has a pretty coastline set against the backdrop of gorgeous mountains. The two cave systems of Cueva Ventana and Cueva del Indio are close by. The best thing about the city is the Charco La Planta waterfall that is right inside the city.
Bayamon
Bayamon to the south of San Juan and has a lot of shopping malls, a river and a great waterfall. It neighbors San Juan but still feels protected from the rush hour that envelopes the city of Sun Juan every evening. It has a lot of history and has some really old buildings with great architecture. Bayamon has everything that you will want in your city with local supermarkets, bars, restaurants and lots of cultural events that take place around the city.
Aguadilla
On the northwest coast of Puerto Rico, the town of Aguadilla is also one of the famous surf towns in Puerto Rico. Surfer’s Beach is one of the famous beaches where surfers come to surf every winter. The city also has an airport and it is easy to get to Sun Juan with the quick flight. The city has beaches, shopping malls and lots of other entertainment that you might be interested in.
Rio Mar
Rio Mar is a neighborhood around 30 minutes away from San Juan. It is one of the more affordable locations in this list because of the lack of expat community and lack of nightlife in the city. This city is perfect for those that want to retire in a quiet tropical town. It is also close to the El Yunque rainforest and you can visit the rainforest easily. Rio Mar is very walkable and you can walk to all the places in town easily.
Cayey
The town of Cayey is surrounded by the Central Mountain Range. It is close to the gorgeous Carite Forest Reserve which you can visit from here. Cayey has an abundance of nature around the town. It also has great weather year round. The population is very small and the city is very safe to live in with a really high quality of life. The abundance of cool hiking trails and waterfalls just add to its appeal.
Conclusion
Some of the best places to live in Puerto Rico have been included in this post. There are 18 really good places with good affordability and livability that have been included. Each city is unique in its culture and what it has to offer in terms of entertainment. I hope you found all the information you need and were able to decide which of the places you would like to live in Puerto Rico when you move there.
Checkout other Puerto Rico posts
Complete Guide to Surfing in Rincon, Puerto Rico
23 Best Things to do in Rincon, Puerto Rico
