Essentials
- City
- Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, USA
- Population
- 89,000
- Internet Speed
- Approx. 250-500 Mbps via Liberty Puerto Rico or Optico Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major US banks like Chase, Citi, and local Banco Popular available.
- Tap Water
- Potable, but filtered water is recommended due to local infrastructure aging.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (Standard US sockets)
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, and Liberty Mobile (Full US roaming applies)
- Banking for Expats
- Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, FirstBank, or US Neobanks like Mercury/Revolut
- Accommodation
- High-end gated communities (Caparra), modern apartments (San Patricio), and Airbnbs.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards and ATH Móvil (local P2P) accepted everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Joiner (Local alternative), average $120-$200/night.
- Budget Accommodation
- City View Inn (Approx. $95/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- San Patricio area (Close to dining and shopping)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Garden Hills or Suchville (Quiet, safe, high-speed fiber availability)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Spece (San Patricio Village) - Rates approx. $25/day or $300/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Gustos Coffee Co. (Matadero) - High-quality estate coffee and reliable Wi-Fi.
- Networking Events
- Parallel18 events and Puerto Rico Tech Summit (held in nearby San Juan).
- Social Events for Expats
- Act 60 Investor meetups at local restaurants like Bottles.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (Widely available and reliable in Guaynabo)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Skootel (Electric scooters found primarily near the San Juan border)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Isla Verde Beach (15 mins drive via PR-22)
- Top Regional Airline
- Silver Airways (Flying from SJU to neighboring islands)
- Top International Airline
- JetBlue, American Airlines, Delta (Flying from Luis Muñoz Marín Int'l)
- Highway Access
- Direct access to PR-2, PR-22 (De Diego), and PR-20 (Martinez Nadal)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tren Urbano: Martinez Nadal Station and Torrimar Station
- Public Transport Passes
- AMA Bus and Tren Urbano cards ($1.50 per ride)
- Regional Travel
- Rental cars via Enterprise or Hertz are essential for travel outside the metro area.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Professional Hospital Guaynabo (Ave. Las Cumbres)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Room PR (San Patricio) - Approx. $20 per drop-in class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Liv Fitness Club (San Patricio Plaza) - Premium facility, approx. $80/month
- Laundry Services
- Guaynabo Laundry & Dry Cleaners (Ave. Esmeralda)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Uva (Local premium app), UberEats, and DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mofongo stuffed with Churrasco (Find it at Metropol)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- El Punto Vegano (Nearby in Cataño/Guaynabo border)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Rare Candy Shop (Creative sweets) and Baskin-Robbins (San Patricio)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- San Patricio Plaza and Plaza Guaynabo
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Standard shipping applies), Walmart.pr
- Grocery Delivery
- SuperMax Online or EconoToGo
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- La Esmeralda Avenue (Lined with bars and tapas restaurants)
- Local Brewery
- Ocean Lab Brewing Co. (Nearby) or visit The Beer Box
- Wine Bars
- Bottles (San Patricio) - Famous wine shop and high-end eatery
- Street Food Stalls
- Guaynabo Food Truck Park (Ave. Esmeralda)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Metropol (Cuban/Puerto Rican) and P.F. Chang's
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Caparra Ruins (First Spanish settlement in PR)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museo del Deporte de Puerto Rico (Sports Museum)
- Historical Sites
- Ruinas de Caparra (Museum and historical park)
- Religious Sites
- Parroquia San Pedro Mártir
- Annual Events
- Carnaval Mabó (Celebrated in February/March)
- Cultural Districts
- Guaynabo City Center (Pueblo)
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Municipal de Guaynabo
- Local Markets
- Mercado Agricola de Guaynabo (Weekends)
- Music Scene
- Live Jazz at various San Patricio venues
- Street Art
- Murals located near the Mario Morales Integrated Transport Terminal
- Cooking Classes
- Kitchen Consigliere (Occasional culinary workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Walter Otero Contemporary Art (Nearby San Juan border)
- Historic Buildings
- Old City Hall (Alcaldía)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Mabó' Taino heritage and the city's identity as 'The 5-Star City'
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- La Marquesa Forest Park (Aviary, butterfly house, and hiking)
- National Parks Nearby
- El Yunque National Forest (45 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Paseo de los Exportadores and Torrimar Park tracks
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirador de Guaynabo (Overlooking the metro area)
- Birdwatching Locations
- La Marquesa Forest Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Beaches in Piñones (20 mins drive) - follow local fire permits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- USPS, FedEx, and UPS (Standard US rates apply)
- Tech Repair Services
- iFix (San Patricio Plaza)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Centro de Tenis de Mesa (Nearby in San Juan/Rio Piedras)
- Language Classes
- Spanish Language Center (Escuela de Idiomas)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Guaynabo Public Library (Calle Carazo)
- Community Centers
- Centro Cultural de Guaynabo
- Gaming Lounges
- Sector Sixty6 (Distrito T-Mobile nearby)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Metro (10 mins away at Sheraton District San Juan)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $168,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $112,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $240,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $150,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $304,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $184,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard 18.5% to 37.5%, but 4% or lower for Act 60 export services.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for bona fide residents under Act 60 (Individual Resident Investor).
- Tax System
- US Territory with its own tax code; residents pay PR tax, not Federal tax on local income.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 33%
- VAT
- 11.5% (IVU - Sales and Use Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Complex interactions with US GILTI rules; professional advice is mandatory.
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on 1957 appraisal values (CRIM).
- Property Transaction Tax
- Generally approx. 1-2% in stamps and legal fees.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Act 60: 4% corporate tax for export of services and 0% tax on capital gains for new residents.