Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlotte Amalie and Saint John Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlotte Amalie and Saint John Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,924 per month in Charlotte Amalie vs $5,791 in Saint John Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Charlotte Amalie vs $7,876 in Saint John Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,149 per month in Charlotte Amalie vs $9,961 in Saint John Island, rent included.

Charlotte Amalie is about 67% cheaper than Saint John Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Charlotte Amalie and Saint John Island sit above the global median – Charlotte Amalie by 44%, Saint John Island by 332%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.28 $25.28

$31.34 $31.34

-19.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.7 $99.7

$152 $152

-34.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$14.95 $14.95

-20.20%

Cappuccino

$7.65 $7.65

$8.98 $8.98

-14.81%

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

$2.26 $2.26

$3.43 $3.43

-34.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$3.55 $3.55

-38.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.16 $7.16

$4.99 $4.99

43.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.13 $9.13

$7.19 $7.19

26.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.24 $3.24

-12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$8.96 $8.96

$8.06 $8.06

11.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.81 $11.81

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$11.85 $11.85

-41.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.39 $31.39

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.54 $32.54

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.73 $23.73

Apples (1kg)

$21.67 $21.67

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

Oranges (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

Tomato (1kg)

$12.11 $12.11

Potato (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

Onion (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.95 $4.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

Wine (Bottle)

$20.06 $20.06

$22.73 $22.73

-11.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.86 $6.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.62 $1.62

-7.41%

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

$47.9K $47.9K

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

$52.2K $52.2K

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

$301 $301

$305 $305

-1.17%

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

$98.5 $98.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$118 $118

$104 $104

13.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.4 $80.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,036 $2,036

$4,058 $4,058

-49.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$938 $938

$3,478 $3,478

-73.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,035 $5,035

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,520 $4,520

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,554 $4,554

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Saint John Island: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,036 in Charlotte Amalie versus $4,058 in Saint John Island. 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 $100 in Charlotte Amalie versus $152 in Saint John Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $979 – making Charlotte Amalie the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Saint John Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint John Island is pricier by about 201%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,886 per month in Charlotte Amalie and $8,687 in Saint John Island. 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 427% more in Saint John Island, 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 $100 in Charlotte Amalie and $152 in Saint John Island. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,924 in Charlotte Amalie and $5,791 in Saint John Island. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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, Saint John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.