I visted Costa Rica in January of 2012 and Puerto Rico in June of 2012. Costa Rica was Okay but everything about it was expensive.
We like Puerto Rico so much that we have another trip planned in February 2013. We stayed for a week near Fajardo and visited Flamenco Beach and Seven Seas Beach.They were right up there with some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. If you like the caribbean, Costa Rica just won't do it for you. We have been to St. Thomas USVI 5+ times and found Puerto Rico to be less expensive than STT. They have Walmarts and many recognizable fast food restaurants.
While I would not want to raise children in PR, I am considering living there in retirement (at least half time). Round trip airfare out of Chicago is reasonable and often a non-stop flight.
Of course, I would not plan on buying real estate in Puerto Rico without first having lived there for an extended period of time. I would nout want to try to find employment, I imagine it would be next to impossible for a non-spanish speaking gringo.
Puerto Rico is beautiful.