Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlotte Amalie and Cruz Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlotte Amalie and Cruz Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,360 per month in Charlotte Amalie vs $2,921 in Cruz Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,227 per month in Charlotte Amalie vs $4,689 in Cruz Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,093 per month in Charlotte Amalie vs $6,458 in Cruz Bay, rent included.

Charlotte Amalie is about 19% cheaper than Cruz Bay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Charlotte Amalie and Cruz Bay sit above the global median – Charlotte Amalie by 71%, Cruz Bay by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.91 $24.91

$30.10 $30.10

-17.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 $121

$91.7 $91.7

32.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$16.82 $16.82

-21.34%

Cappuccino

$7.13 $7.13

$9.18 $9.18

-22.33%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.07 $3.07

0.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.97 $3.97

-38.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.63 $5.63

$8.17 $8.17

-31.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$9.09 $9.09

-23.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.80 $2.80

$7.92 $7.92

-64.65%

White Bread (500g)

$8.85 $8.85

Eggs

$6.88 $6.88

$5.08 $5.08

35.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.58 $15.58

Apples (1kg)

$9.07 $9.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 $5.07

Wine (Bottle)

$20.27 $20.27

$25.49 $25.49

-20.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.17 $6.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$20.29 $20.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

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

$45.9K $45.9K

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

$48.7K $48.7K

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

$298 $298

$354 $354

-15.77%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$141 $141

-57.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$60.6 $60.6

68.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$202 $202

$91.4 $91.4

121.57%

Cinema Ticket

$12.02 $12.02

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K $13.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 $91.3

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 $1,235

$1,816 $1,816

-31.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 $1,019

$1,529 $1,529

-33.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,467 $3,467

$3,504 $3,504

-1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$3,444 $3,444

-13.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,110 $6,110

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Charlotte Amalie: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cruz Bay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,235 in Charlotte Amalie versus $1,816 in Cruz Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Charlotte Amalie versus $92.0 in Cruz Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Charlotte Amalie vs $274 in Cruz Bay – so Charlotte Amalie wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Charlotte Amalie vs Cruz Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cruz Bay is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,540 per month in Charlotte Amalie and $4,382 in Cruz Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Charlotte Amalie, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Cruz Bay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Charlotte Amalie and $92.0 in Cruz Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Charlotte Amalie, where all-in costs run around $2,360, than in Cruz Bay at $2,921. In Charlotte Amalie it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cruz Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Charlotte Amalie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Charlotte Amalie. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cruz Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.