If you live in Puerto Rico and shop online, you've probably tried both Temu and Amazon. But which one actually saves you money after shipping?
I compared 20 common purchases across both platforms, ordered to a Puerto Rico address. Here's the data:
The Price Comparison (Real Orders, Feb 2025)
| Item | Temu | Amazon | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone case | $2.50 | $8.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Bluetooth earbuds | $4.99 | $19.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Kitchen utensil set | $8.99 | $14.99 | Temu ✅ |
| USB-C cable (3-pack) | $3.50 | $9.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Ring light | $6.99 | $12.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Running shoes | $15.99 | $45.00 | Temu ✅ (but quality?) |
| Laptop stand | $12.99 | $24.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Yoga mat | $9.99 | $22.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Portable charger 10000mAh | $8.99 | $19.99 | Temu ✅ |
| Desk organizer | $5.99 | $15.99 | Temu ✅ |
Temu total: $81.92 | Amazon total: $196.91
Temu wins on price every time. But here's the catch...
The Hidden Costs for Puerto Rico
Delivery Time
- Amazon to PR: 7-14 days (Prime "2-day" doesn't apply)
- Temu to PR: 14-30 days (sometimes 5+ weeks)
That extra 2-3 weeks matters when you need something.
Returns
- Amazon: Possible from PR, though limited
- Temu: Nearly impossible. Return shipping costs more than most items.
Quality
I'd estimate 70% of Temu items matched or exceeded expectations. The other 30%? Straight to the trash. The running shoes fell apart in 2 weeks. The earbuds died after a month.
Amazon's items lasted. Every single one.
Catalog Availability
- Temu to PR: ~95% of catalog ships
- Amazon to PR: ~60-70% (30-40% blocked for PR addresses)
This is Temu's secret weapon. Almost everything ships to PR, while Amazon blocks a huge chunk of their catalog.
The Verdict
Buy from Temu when:
- You don't need it for 3+ weeks
- It's under $15 and you won't cry if it breaks
- Accessories, decor, craft supplies, phone cases
- You can't find it on Amazon (blocked for PR)
Buy from Amazon when:
- You need it within 2 weeks
- Quality matters (electronics, tools, health items)
- You might need to return it
- It's actually available for your PR address
Buy from neither — use a forwarding service when:
- Amazon blocks the item for PR
- You're ordering from 3+ retailers
- You want to consolidate and save on shipping
Services like PackagePR give you a mainland US address. Everything ships there, gets consolidated, and forwarded to PR. This unlocks 100% of Amazon's catalog AND saves on Temu shipping by batching orders.
The Math for Monthly Shoppers
| Scenario | Direct Shipping | With PackagePR |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Temu orders | $0 (free) but 4-week wait | Faster via mainland routing |
| 5 Amazon orders | $50-75 in surcharges | $25-35 consolidated |
| 3 orders from blocked retailers | Impossible | $15-25 forwarded |
| Monthly total | $50-75 + lost items | $29/mo plan + $15-35 shipping |
The forwarding service pays for itself if you order more than 3 packages a month from US retailers.
Which platform do you shop more from in PR? Drop your experience below.
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