Buying a home in Puerto Rico is a significant financial challenge. The typical home costs $131,500 — that's 5.0× of the typical household income of $26,297 a year. A family saving their entire income would need 5.0 years just to cover the purchase price, before factoring in mortgage interest, property taxes, or maintenance costs.
Renters face moderate pressure. The typical rent in Puerto Rico is $578 a month, and 30% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing — the point at which most financial advisers say rent becomes unaffordable. That figure is 35% lower than the national average of 45%.
13.3% of Puerto Rico homeowners with a mortgage spend more than 30% of their income on housing — close to the national average of 16.1%.