🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $887 in Saint Helena versus $1,644 in Spain.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,421 in Saint Helena versus $2,400 in Spain.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,955 in Saint Helena versus $3,155 in Spain.
🙂Living in Saint Helena costs about 46% 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 $1,115 to $3,300, compared to $520–$1,254 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.27SHP 12.04
$16.01€13.67
1.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4SHP 39.52
$59.0€50.4
-9.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.20SHP 9.02
$10.26€8.77
18.91%
Cappuccino
$3.11SHP 2.30
$2.29€1.95
35.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22SHP 0.90
$2.59€2.21
-52.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18SHP 0.87
$1.81€1.55
-34.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.62SHP 3.42
$3.53€3.01
30.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70SHP 2.00
$4.02€3.44
-32.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88SHP 1.39
$1.24€1.06
51.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82SHP 1.35
$1.52€1.30
19.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39SHP 1.03
$1.60€1.37
-13.13%
Eggs
$4.17SHP 3.08
$2.98€2.54
39.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23SHP 6.09
$14.49€12.38
-43.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78SHP 7.98
$8.37€7.14
28.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86SHP 8.03
$15.94€13.62
-31.87%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.54€2.17
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.10€1.79
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.06€1.76
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.64€2.25
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.84€1.58
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.91€1.63
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.77SHP 2.05
$1.33€1.14
108.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30SHP 1.70
$0.80€0.68
187.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49SHP 8.50
$6.43€5.49
78.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.64SHP 11.57
$5.82€4.97
168.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.24€1.06
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.11€1.80
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.70€1.45
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.39SHP 30.63
$34.64€29.58
19.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SHP 1.99
$4.60€3.93
-41.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.35€1.15
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$27.00€23.06
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.57SHP 1.90
$1.84€1.57
39.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$38.3K€32.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.2K€26.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$151€129
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$20.30€17.34
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$167SHP 123
$33.21€28.36
401.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.57SHP 10.04
$47.38€40.47
-71.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.74€13.44
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.06€7.74
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$523€446
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,978€8,521
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.34SHP 30.59
$87.7€74.9
-52.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.49SHP 15.16
$37.32€31.87
-45.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.35SHP 35.04
$88.7€75.8
-46.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$106€90.8
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$703SHP 520
$1,052€899
-33.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SHP 461
$809€691
-22.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$701SHP 519
$1,674€1,429
-58.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647SHP 479
$1,213€1,036
-46.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,487€3,832
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,733€2,334
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helena
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$799SHP 592
$2,111€1,803
-62.13%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Spain: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $718 in Saint Helena, $899 in Spain. Capital cities: $676 in Jamestown vs $1,595 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $799 in Saint Helena, $2,010 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 25% higher in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 24% more expensive in Saint Helena.
⭐Salaries are 152% higher in Spain, giving Spain stronger purchasing power.
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 $887 per month in Saint Helena and $2,208 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?
Saint Helena is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Spain?
In Saint Helena, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Saint Helena or 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