I moved from Massachusetts to Puerto Rico 2 years ago. Living in 'paradise' also comes with power outages and potholes.
A personal account from a Massachusetts native who moved to Puerto Rico, detailing the trade-offs of island life. While the author enjoys the culture, they warn prospective movers about persistent infrastructure issues like frequent power outages and poor public transit.
Why it matters
It provides a realistic perspective on the 'digital nomad' or relocation trend, contrasting romanticized views of island living with the reality of aging infrastructure.
As much as I've loved living in Puerto Rico, like any place, it has its own local issues and problems that others hoping to move here may want to keep in mind. Jared Ranahan In 2024, I moved from Massachusetts to Puerto Rico to be with my boyfriend, who's from there. On a regular basis, the unreliable electric grid and water interruptions can be difficult to manage. Although I wish there were more walkable areas and great public-transit options, I love living here. During a recent visit to New York, my boyfriend and I struck up a conversation with a bartender at our hotel. Upon mentioning where we were visiting from, we were met with a jovial "Wow, you two live in Puerto Rico ? What's life like in paradise?" It's a sentiment that I've heard frequently over the past few years.
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