Cost of Living Comparison Between Philipsburg and Simpson Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Philipsburg and Simpson Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,135 in Philipsburg versus $3,648 in Simpson Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,748 in Philipsburg versus $6,397 in Simpson Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,362 in Philipsburg versus $9,145 in Simpson Bay.

Living in Philipsburg costs roughly 14% less than in Simpson Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Philipsburg 135% above, Simpson Bay 173% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.96 ANG 26.70

$21.83 ANG 38.97

-31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 ANG 134

$139 ANG 248

-45.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 ANG 14.68

Cappuccino

$4.26 ANG 7.60

$2.91 ANG 5.20

46.39%

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

$2.91 ANG 5.20

$2.95 ANG 5.26

-1.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 ANG 6.59

$3.04 ANG 5.43

21.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ANG 5.21

$5.41 ANG 9.66

-46.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 ANG 8.80

$4.12 ANG 7.35

19.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.09 ANG 5.51

$4.62 ANG 8.25

-33.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ANG 5.44

$2.46 ANG 4.39

23.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 ANG 5.25

$2.48 ANG 4.43

18.55%

Eggs

$6.45 ANG 11.50

$4.13 ANG 7.37

56.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.48 ANG 32.99

$18.38 ANG 32.81

0.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.19 ANG 30.68

$13.97 ANG 24.93

23.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.73 ANG 35.23

$15.56 ANG 27.78

26.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.85 ANG 10.44

$3.69 ANG 6.58

58.54%

Banana (1kg)

$5.96 ANG 10.64

$2.91 ANG 5.19

104.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.14 ANG 16.31

$5.21 ANG 9.30

75.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.50 ANG 11.61

$3.98 ANG 7.10

63.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.94 ANG 7.04

$2.99 ANG 5.33

31.77%

Onion (1kg)

$3.95 ANG 7.06

$2.06 ANG 3.67

91.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.63 ANG 8.26

$2.95 ANG 5.27

56.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ANG 3.65

$1.45 ANG 2.59

41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.18 ANG 14.59

Wine (Bottle)

$11.20 ANG 20.00

$15.13 ANG 27.01

-25.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.22 ANG 5.75

$0.98 ANG 1.75

228.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ANG 5.13

$1.52 ANG 2.72

88.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 ANG 2.73

$2.16 ANG 3.86

-29.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$15.02 ANG 26.81

$9.86 ANG 17.60

52.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.94 ANG 8.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ANG 2.46

$1.41 ANG 2.51

-2.13%

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

$226 ANG 404

$507 ANG 905

-55.42%

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

$32.10 ANG 57.3

$35.34 ANG 63.1

-9.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 ANG 124

$89.2 ANG 159

-21.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 ANG 111

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 ANG 23.46

$8.61 ANG 15.36

52.61%

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

$380 ANG 678

$1,009 ANG 1,801

-62.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ANG 20.4K

$12.0K ANG 21.4K

-4.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 ANG 141

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 ANG 3,549

$2,295 ANG 4,097

-13.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 ANG 3,349

$2,288 ANG 4,084

-17.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,677 ANG 10.1K

$6,494 ANG 11.6K

-12.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,739 ANG 10.2K

$5,963 ANG 10.6K

-3.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,126 ANG 2,010

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

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

Last update for Philipsburg: July 12, 2026

Last update for Simpson Bay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,988 in Philipsburg and $2,295 in Simpson Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Philipsburg vs $139 in Simpson Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $541 vs $426, with Simpson Bay 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

Philipsburg vs Simpson Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Philipsburg wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Simpson Bay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Philipsburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,702 in Philipsburg and $5,473 in Simpson Bay 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,988 in Philipsburg versus $2,295 in Simpson Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Simpson Bay pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,135 per month in Philipsburg versus $3,648 in Simpson Bay – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Philipsburg 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.

Expats usually find Philipsburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Simpson Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.