Why I'm Considering Moving to Puerto Rico
Before the passing of my youngest son, I was considering what life would be like as a digital nomad. All of my work is done digitally, so the idea really wasn’t that farfetched. Now that my life has been completely changed forever, I’m moving beyond imagining and starting to seriously look at my options.
Now I know some might be thinking about the age factor - “Isn’t that way of life for millennials and Generation Z?” And the answer is, no. As a matter of fact, because of the rising cost of living, many Gen Xer’s are selling or leasing their homes to embracing the digital nomad lifestyle and/or moving outside of the United States.
So why Puerto Rico? Well first and foremost, it is a U.S. territory. Like Washington D.C., Puerto Rico also doesn’t have statehood, but it’s American nonetheless. In addition to using the American dollar, many U.S. Citizens are moving to the beautiful Caribbean island to take advantage of the lucrative tax benefits (read more here), and according to the IRS if you're a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico during the entire tax year, you generally aren't required to file a U.S. federal income tax return if your only income is from sources within Puerto Rico (read more here). Yes, Puerto Rico provides a lavish, low tax lifestyle for U.S. Citizens who leave the mainland.
Other perks include not needing a passport to travel to the island from the mainland and you retain your U.S. Citizenship. The cost of living is 25% lower than living on the mainland (including rent), and Puerto Rico has an advance internet structure which is a plus for remote workers. The island also has a strong work culture, so professionals are guaranteed to have the resources they need in order to thrive.
And let’s not forget about the beautiful scenery and the numerous activities that are accessible, including laying out on the beach, hiking in the rainforest, and the festive nightlife. Who wouldn’t want to live this type of stress free lifestyle?!
If you’re like me and thinking about embracing the digital nomad way of life, or just looking for a change of scenery and relocating from the mainland, I highly suggest you consider moving to Puerto Rico! And to help you get started, The Black PR Trust is sponsoring a 4 day conference, Oct. 19th - 22nd, that includes hearing from business leaders, entrepreneurs, digital nomads and remote workers on how they relocated to the island and successfully established themselves. There will also be a tour of local businesses and the city of San Juan. My other suggestion; brush up on your Spanish! Although I took Spanish in both high school and college, I am currently taking Spanish for Beginners on Skillshare.
To learn more about The Black PR Trust gathering in October and how you can live, work and thrive in Puerto Rico, Click here to learn more.
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