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: $872 in Alexandria versus $879 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Alexandria versus $1,438 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,982 in Alexandria versus $1,998 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Alexandria costs roughly 1% less than in Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 JMD 1,193

$7.37 JMD 1,159

2.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 JMD 9,901

$63.3 JMD 9,958

-0.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 JMD 1,341

$8.95 JMD 1,407

-4.69%

Cappuccino

$4.45 JMD 700

$4.40 JMD 693

1.14%

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

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.31 JMD 205

3.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.74 JMD 117

1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.52 JMD 397

1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 503

$3.17 JMD 498

0.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.36 JMD 686

$4.23 JMD 665

3.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 JMD 545

$3.49 JMD 549

-0.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

$1.58 JMD 248

3.16%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 566

$3.42 JMD 538

5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 JMD 1,729

$11.24 JMD 1,768

-2.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,014

$6.55 JMD 1,030

-1.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 JMD 1,189

$7.54 JMD 1,187

0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 JMD 941

$5.96 JMD 938

0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 487

$3.16 JMD 497

-2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 JMD 668

$4.13 JMD 650

2.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.93 JMD 461

$3.00 JMD 472

-2.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 315

$2.07 JMD 326

-3.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 303

$1.94 JMD 305

-0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 JMD 471

$2.99 JMD 470

0.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$1.46 JMD 229

-1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 JMD 1,395

$9.01 JMD 1,417

-1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 JMD 1,822

$11.47 JMD 1,804

0.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 JMD 453

$2.85 JMD 449

1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 498

$3.21 JMD 506

-1.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

$1.09 JMD 171

2.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 JMD 502

$3.16 JMD 497

0.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.32 JMD 995

$6.15 JMD 967

2.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 JMD 200

$1.23 JMD 193

3.25%

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

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

0.07%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-0.77%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$162 JMD 25.4K

1.88%

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

$22.41 JMD 3,525

$22.34 JMD 3,514

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,044

$50.2 JMD 7,897

1.85%

Cinema Ticket

$13.35 JMD 2,100

$12.93 JMD 2,034

3.25%

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

$229 JMD 36.0K

$226 JMD 35.6K

1.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,491 JMD 391.7K

$2,445 JMD 384.5K

1.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.28 JMD 4,133

$26.26 JMD 4,130

0.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 JMD 4,075

$26.02 JMD 4,092

-0.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 JMD 11.0K

$71.7 JMD 11.3K

-2.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 JMD 12.1K

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

3.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$405 JMD 63.7K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Alexandria vs $63.0 in Santa Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $350 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 ($872 vs $879 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,308 in Alexandria and $1,318 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 $229 in Alexandria versus $226 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 Alexandria – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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