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: $3,079 in Philipsburg versus $3,727 in Simpson Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,825 in Philipsburg versus $6,371 in Simpson Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,571 in Philipsburg versus $9,016 in Simpson Bay.

Living in Philipsburg costs roughly 17% less than in Simpson Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Philipsburg 130% above, Simpson Bay 178% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.89 ANG 26.57

$21.68 ANG 38.70

-31.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.5 ANG 136

$137 ANG 245

-44.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ANG 13.99

Cappuccino

$4.27 ANG 7.62

$2.96 ANG 5.29

44.26%

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

$3.07 ANG 5.48

$2.93 ANG 5.23

4.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 ANG 6.59

$3.03 ANG 5.41

21.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ANG 5.24

$5.60 ANG 9.99

-47.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 ANG 8.68

$3.92 ANG 7.00

23.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.01 ANG 5.38

$4.51 ANG 8.05

-33.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 ANG 5.69

$2.46 ANG 4.39

29.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 ANG 5.50

$2.60 ANG 4.65

18.46%

Eggs

$6.24 ANG 11.14

$4.17 ANG 7.44

49.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.64 ANG 33.28

$18.68 ANG 33.34

-0.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.11 ANG 30.55

$13.97 ANG 24.94

22.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.55 ANG 34.90

$15.13 ANG 27.01

29.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 ANG 10.94

$3.74 ANG 6.67

63.90%

Banana (1kg)

$6.07 ANG 10.83

$2.86 ANG 5.10

112.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$9.28 ANG 16.56

$5.23 ANG 9.33

77.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 ANG 11.51

$3.92 ANG 7.01

64.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.98 ANG 7.11

$3.01 ANG 5.38

32.23%

Onion (1kg)

$4.04 ANG 7.22

$1.95 ANG 3.49

107.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.42 ANG 7.89

$2.99 ANG 5.33

47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ANG 3.50

$1.42 ANG 2.53

38.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 ANG 14.08

Wine (Bottle)

$11.02 ANG 19.67

$15.20 ANG 27.14

-27.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 ANG 5.93

$0.97 ANG 1.74

242.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ANG 4.94

$1.54 ANG 2.76

79.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 ANG 2.75

$2.16 ANG 3.86

-28.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$14.78 ANG 26.38

$10.06 ANG 17.95

46.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.88 ANG 8.72

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ANG 2.56

$1.46 ANG 2.60

-2.05%

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

$225 ANG 401

$503 ANG 898

-55.30%

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

$32.45 ANG 57.9

$35.37 ANG 63.1

-8.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 ANG 125

$85.9 ANG 153

-18.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 ANG 110

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 ANG 23.16

$8.49 ANG 15.15

52.77%

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

$376 ANG 670

$1,019 ANG 1,818

-63.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ANG 20.3K

$12.3K ANG 21.9K

-7.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 ANG 141

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,978 ANG 3,530

$2,279 ANG 4,068

-13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 ANG 3,385

$2,336 ANG 4,170

-18.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,747 ANG 10.3K

$6,559 ANG 11.7K

-12.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,638 ANG 10.1K

$5,796 ANG 10.3K

-2.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ANG 1,980

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Simpson Bay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,978 in Philipsburg and $2,279 in Simpson Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Philipsburg vs $137 in Simpson Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $541 vs $425, 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 21% 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 $4,619 in Philipsburg and $5,590 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: $1,978 in Philipsburg versus $2,279 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 $3,079 per month in Philipsburg versus $3,727 in Simpson Bay – a 21% 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 21% less than in Simpson Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.