Cost of Living Comparison Between Monaco and St Thomas Cost of Living Comparison Between Monaco and St Thomas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $10.9K in Monaco versus $4,364 in St Thomas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $11.7K in Monaco versus $7,069 in St Thomas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $12.5K in Monaco versus $9,773 in St Thomas.

Living in Monaco is roughly 150% more expensive than in St Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monaco 718% above, St Thomas 227% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.12 €20.20
$20.24 $20.24
14.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$203 €178
$161 $161
26.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.99 €10.48
$12.11 $12.11
-0.99%
Cappuccino
$4.92 €4.29
$6.84 $6.84
-28.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76 €5.04
$4.07 $4.07
41.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 €4.06
$3.45 $3.45
34.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.69 €8.47
$6.65 $6.65
45.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 €7.16
$9.83 $9.83
-16.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 €1.57
$2.53 $2.53
-29.25%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 €3.74
$6.58 $6.58
-34.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.44 €3.01
$18.91 $18.91
-81.81%
Eggs
$4.67 €4.08
$8.88 $8.88
-47.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.33 €15.14
$11.12 $11.12
55.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.79 €14.67
$31.84 $31.84
-47.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.86 €14.73
$39.10 $39.10
-56.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 €2.25
$12.04 $12.04
-78.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 €2.50
$11.15 $11.15
-74.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.88 €2.52
$12.33 $12.33
-76.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.75 €4.15
$19.87 $19.87
-76.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 €2.19
$1.90 $1.90
31.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 €2.31
$8.99 $8.99
-70.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 €1.71
$8.12 $8.12
-75.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$8.06 €7.05
$6.15 $6.15
31.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.39 €12.58
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.99 €6.98
$24.85 $24.85
-67.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 €1.43
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13 €4.48
$6.03 $6.03
-14.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.03 $2.03
4.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.38 €22.18
$59.0 $59.0
-56.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.54 €6.58
$20.32 $20.32
-62.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 €1.42
$3.19 $3.19
-49.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$91.6 €80.1
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.39 €2.09
$1.35 $1.35
77.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3K €44.0K
$55.5K $55.5K
-9.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3K €35.2K
$38.1K $38.1K
5.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$333 €291
$394 $394
-15.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.24 €42.15
$100 $100
-51.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 €56.5
$132 $132
-50.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$568 €496
$126 $126
351.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.37 €39.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.12 €12.34
$11.87 $11.87
18.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,259 €1,974
$1,507 $1,507
49.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$46.2K €40.3K
$21.7K $21.7K
113.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$173 €151
$117 $117
48.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 €61.1
$148 $148
-52.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$197 €172
$198 $198
-0.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$683 €597
$149 $149
358.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,462 €7,393
$1,443 $1,443
486.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$8,351 €7,296
$1,796 $1,796
364.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$43.6K €38.1K
$3,200 $3,200
1262.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,968 €6,088
$4,188 $4,188
66.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$73.7K €64.4K
$4,841 $4,841
1421.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$55.9K €48.8K
$10.8K $10.8K
415.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monaco
St Thomas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,008 €7,871
$2,801 $2,801
221.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
9.45
-65.61%

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

Last update for Monaco: July 14, 2026

Last update for St Thomas: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $8,462 in Monaco and $1,443 in St Thomas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monaco pays 222% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $203 in Monaco vs $161 in St Thomas. Groceries flip the comparison at $497 vs $980, with Monaco 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
Monaco vs St Thomas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monaco and in St Thomas?
Monaco and St Thomas differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($10.9K vs $4,364 including rent). St Thomas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Monaco or St Thomas?
Average pay runs 222% higher in Monaco, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Monaco and in St Thomas?
Rent for a central apartment: $8,462 in Monaco versus $1,443 in St Thomas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in St Thomas – a meal for two runs $161 versus $203 in Monaco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Monaco or St Thomas?
All in, you'll spend $10.9K per month in Monaco versus $4,364 in St Thomas – a 150% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $5,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $5,000. St Thomas is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Monaco and St Thomas?
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.
Is Monaco or St Thomas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Monaco and St Thomas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Monaco or St Thomas?
Expats usually find St Thomas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Monaco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Monaco vs other spots: cost of living compared