Cost of Living Comparison Between Cruz Bay and Saint John Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Cruz Bay and Saint John Island

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,913 in Cruz Bay versus $6,195 in Saint John Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,739 in Cruz Bay versus $8,291 in Saint John Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,564 in Cruz Bay versus $10.4K in Saint John Island.

Living in Cruz Bay costs roughly 53% less than in Saint John Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cruz Bay 112% above, Saint John Island 351% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.74 $29.74

$70.5 $70.5

-57.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$93.7 $93.7

$149 $149

-37.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.85 $16.85

$15.20 $15.20

10.86%

Cappuccino

$8.80 $8.80

$9.08 $9.08

-3.08%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.40 $3.40

-12.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.46 $3.46

14.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$5.15 $5.15

58.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$6.95 $6.95

27.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$8.15 $8.15

$3.26 $3.26

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$8.07 $8.07

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

Eggs

$4.91 $4.91

$12.09 $12.09

-59.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.24 $32.24

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$32.75 $32.75

-51.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.22 $24.22

Apples (1kg)

$9.08 $9.08

$22.01 $22.01

-58.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

Oranges (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

Tomato (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

Potato (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

Onion (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.89 $4.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

Wine (Bottle)

$24.62 $24.62

$22.77 $22.77

8.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.45 $4.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.18 $7.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.0 $50.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

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

$48.4K $48.4K

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

$53.3K $53.3K

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

$346 $346

$298 $298

16.24%

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

$139 $139

$99.4 $99.4

39.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$101 $101

-39.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 $90.9

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K $12.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 $81.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 $49.58

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,820 $1,820

$3,977 $3,977

-54.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 $1,476

$3,477 $3,477

-57.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,509 $3,509

$4,953 $4,953

-29.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 $3,537

$4,570 $4,570

-22.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,100 $6,100

$4,574 $4,574

33.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-28.57%

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

Last update for Cruz Bay: August 29, 2026

Last update for Saint John Island: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,820 in Cruz Bay and $3,977 in Saint John Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cruz Bay pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $94.0 in Cruz Bay vs $149 in Saint John Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $986 per month, with Cruz Bay 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

Cruz Bay vs Saint John Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cruz Bay and Saint John Island differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($2,913 vs $6,195 including rent). Cruz Bay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Cruz Bay, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,820 in Cruz Bay versus $3,977 in Saint John Island. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cruz Bay – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $149 in Saint John Island. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,913 per month in Cruz Bay versus $6,195 in Saint John Island – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Cruz Bay is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Cruz Bay and Saint John Island are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cruz Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.