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: $868 in Alexandria versus $868 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,435 in Alexandria versus $1,448 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,001 in Alexandria versus $2,027 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs are close between Alexandria and Santa Cruz; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.53 JMD 1,185

$7.44 JMD 1,172

1.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.9 JMD 9,740

$63.3 JMD 9,961

-2.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.88 JMD 1,398

$8.76 JMD 1,379

1.37%

Cappuccino

$4.28 JMD 674

$4.35 JMD 685

-1.61%

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

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.35 JMD 213

0.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$0.71 JMD 112

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 JMD 390

$2.44 JMD 384

1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 483

$3.16 JMD 498

-3.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.44 JMD 699

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 JMD 559

$3.61 JMD 569

-1.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.58 JMD 248

1.90%

Eggs

$3.61 JMD 569

$3.58 JMD 564

0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.14 JMD 1,755

$10.92 JMD 1,719

2.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,012

$6.53 JMD 1,029

-1.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 JMD 1,225

$7.57 JMD 1,192

2.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 JMD 928

$5.93 JMD 934

-0.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 493

$3.01 JMD 474

3.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 683

$4.14 JMD 653

4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 JMD 464

$3.01 JMD 475

-2.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 328

$2.09 JMD 330

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 305

$1.99 JMD 314

-3.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.11 JMD 490

$2.97 JMD 468

4.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 234

$1.48 JMD 233

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.91 JMD 1,403

$8.88 JMD 1,398

0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.41 JMD 1,797

$11.15 JMD 1,756

2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 437

$2.87 JMD 452

-3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.10 JMD 488

2.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 495

$3.09 JMD 487

1.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.41 JMD 1,010

$6.36 JMD 1,001

0.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.23 JMD 194

4.07%

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

$43.5K JMD 6.8M

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

1.47%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-1.46%

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

$161 JMD 25.4K

0.09%

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

$22.42 JMD 3,531

$21.95 JMD 3,457

2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 JMD 7,955

$51.8 JMD 8,162

-2.53%

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 JMD 2,111

$13.26 JMD 2,087

1.13%

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

$227 JMD 35.7K

0.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 JMD 388.7K

$2,505 JMD 394.4K

-1.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.41 JMD 4,159

$25.76 JMD 4,057

2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.67 JMD 4,042

$25.96 JMD 4,087

-1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 JMD 11.1K

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 JMD 12.0K

$76.2 JMD 12.0K

0.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 JMD 63.1K

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Alexandria vs $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $351, with Santa Cruz cheaper for home cooking.

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

You'd need roughly $1,302 in Alexandria and $1,303 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 $227 in Alexandria versus $227 in Santa Cruz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Santa Cruz pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Alexandria 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.

It comes down to priorities – Alexandria wins on affordability, Santa Cruz on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.