🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $877 in Saint Helena versus $1,642 in Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,429 in Saint Helena versus $2,392 in Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,981 in Saint Helena versus $3,142 in Spain.
🌍Living in Saint Helena costs about 47% less than in Spain on average.
📊Saint Helena (34% below) and Spain (23% above) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,122 to $3,254, compared to $514–$1,240 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.47SHP 12.20
$16.06€13.91
2.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8SHP 39.85
$56.9€49.24
-5.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.10SHP 8.96
$10.30€8.92
17.48%
Cappuccino
$3.12SHP 2.31
$2.32€2.01
34.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22SHP 0.90
$2.60€2.26
-53.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12SHP 0.83
$1.84€1.59
-39.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.68SHP 3.47
$3.43€2.97
36.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59SHP 1.92
$3.97€3.44
-34.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92SHP 1.42
$1.19€1.03
61.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83SHP 1.36
$1.52€1.32
20.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38SHP 1.02
$1.67€1.45
-17.37%
Eggs
$4.33SHP 3.21
$2.98€2.58
45.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.03SHP 5.95
$14.42€12.49
-44.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.73SHP 7.95
$8.59€7.44
24.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09SHP 8.22
$15.95€13.81
-30.47%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.51€2.17
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.07€1.80
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.04€1.77
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.64€2.28
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.76€1.52
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.98€1.71
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75SHP 2.04
$1.35€1.17
103.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30SHP 1.71
$0.74€0.64
210.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.42SHP 8.46
$6.27€5.43
82.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.70SHP 11.63
$5.75€4.98
173.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.30€1.13
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.06€1.78
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.77€1.53
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.65SHP 30.11
$34.49€29.87
17.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67SHP 1.98
$4.49€3.89
-40.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.32€1.15
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$27.12€23.48
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.57SHP 1.91
$1.80€1.56
42.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$38.2K€33.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$30.8K€26.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$149€129
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$20.14€17.44
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$164SHP 122
$33.50€29.01
390.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.65SHP 10.11
$46.30€40.10
-70.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.61€13.52
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.40€8.14
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$522€452
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,880€8,556
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.16SHP 30.49
$88.1€76.3
-53.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.65SHP 15.30
$35.98€31.16
-42.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.39SHP 35.85
$89.0€77.1
-45.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$108€93.6
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$713SHP 528
$1,039€900
-31.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SHP 462
$820€710
-23.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$707SHP 524
$1,689€1,462
-58.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$659SHP 488
$1,214€1,051
-45.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,301€3,725
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,604€2,255
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$784SHP 581
$1,982€1,716
-60.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.2
3.51
76.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Helena: July 25, 2026
Last update for Spain: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $715 in Saint Helena, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $673 in Jamestown vs $1,561 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $764 in Saint Helena, $1,989 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 26% higher in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 24% more expensive in Saint Helena.
⭐Salaries are 160% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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
Saint Helena vs Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Saint Helena and Spain?
At $877 per month in Saint Helena and $2,188 in Spain, there's a 149% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Saint Helena: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in Saint Helena across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Saint Helena or in Spain?
In Saint Helena, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Saint Helena or to Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Saint Helena wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Saint Helena vs other spots: cost of living compared