Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $884 in Alexandria versus $878 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Alexandria versus $1,429 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,967 in Alexandria versus $1,981 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Alexandria is roughly 1% more expensive than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 34% lower, Santa Cruz 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,205

$7.66 JMD 1,213

-0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,837

$62.0 JMD 9,819

0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,386

$8.89 JMD 1,407

-1.46%

Cappuccino

$4.27 JMD 677

$4.39 JMD 695

-2.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 JMD 216

$1.31 JMD 207

3.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 118

$0.76 JMD 120

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 JMD 393

$2.56 JMD 405

-2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 501

$3.15 JMD 498

0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.42 JMD 700

$4.44 JMD 703

-0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 JMD 577

$3.62 JMD 573

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 247

$1.55 JMD 246

0.65%

Eggs

$3.57 JMD 565

$3.48 JMD 550

2.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 JMD 1,768

$10.91 JMD 1,727

2.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 JMD 1,008

$6.50 JMD 1,029

-2.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 JMD 1,222

$7.69 JMD 1,216

0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 JMD 970

$5.99 JMD 948

2.34%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 JMD 478

$3.15 JMD 499

-4.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 JMD 663

$4.31 JMD 682

-2.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 483

$2.96 JMD 468

3.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 321

$2.10 JMD 332

-3.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 320

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 471

$3.09 JMD 490

-3.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 JMD 239

$1.50 JMD 237

0.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.56 JMD 1,356

$8.68 JMD 1,374

-1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 JMD 1,830

$11.38 JMD 1,801

1.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 JMD 454

$2.88 JMD 455

-0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 486

$3.22 JMD 510

-4.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

$1.12 JMD 177

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 JMD 511

$3.27 JMD 517

-1.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 994

$6.12 JMD 968

2.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$1.23 JMD 194

0.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$42.1K JMD 6.7M

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

-3.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

1.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$164 JMD 25.9K

$161 JMD 25.5K

1.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.90 JMD 3,466

$21.96 JMD 3,476

-0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 8,025

$51.8 JMD 8,200

-2.12%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 JMD 2,077

$12.91 JMD 2,043

1.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$225 JMD 35.5K

$225 JMD 35.6K

-0.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,490 JMD 394.1K

$2,521 JMD 398.9K

-1.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.58 JMD 4,208

$26.24 JMD 4,153

1.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.46 JMD 4,029

$25.28 JMD 4,001

0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

$70.6 JMD 11.2K

2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

-0.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 JMD 63.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alexandria: April 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Alexandria and $0 in Santa Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62 in Alexandria vs $62 in Santa Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $354 per month, with Alexandria cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alexandria vs Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria and Santa Cruz differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($884 vs $878 including rent). Santa Cruz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,326 in Alexandria and $1,317 in Santa Cruz to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $225 in Alexandria versus $225 in Santa Cruz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Santa Cruz – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $62.0 in Alexandria. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Santa Cruz gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Santa Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.