🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Saint Helena versus $2,643 in United States.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,421 in Saint Helena versus $3,856 in United States.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,953 in Saint Helena versus $5,069 in United States.
🙂Living in Saint Helena costs about 66% less than in United States on average.
📊Saint Helena (34% below) and United States (97% above) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $1,346 to $5,196, compared to $506–$1,273 in Saint Helena. City choice carries more weight in United States.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24SHP 12.10
$20.12$20.12
-19.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7SHP 40.01
$73.9$73.9
-27.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.19SHP 9.08
$11.56$11.56
5.45%
Cappuccino
$3.04SHP 2.26
$5.09$5.09
-40.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20SHP 0.90
$2.58$2.58
-53.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17SHP 0.87
$2.15$2.15
-45.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.73SHP 3.52
$6.10$6.10
-22.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62SHP 1.95
$6.95$6.95
-62.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84SHP 1.37
$1.08$1.08
70.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79SHP 1.34
$3.74$3.74
-52.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33SHP 0.99
$4.53$4.53
-70.64%
Eggs
$4.15SHP 3.09
$4.43$4.43
-6.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32SHP 6.19
$12.99$12.99
-35.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.71SHP 7.98
$12.25$12.25
-12.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.93SHP 8.14
$16.17$16.17
-32.41%
Apples(1kg)
-
$5.31$5.31
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.64$1.64
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$4.44$4.44
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$5.03$5.03
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.98$2.98
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$3.03$3.03
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73SHP 2.03
$2.26$2.26
20.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19SHP 1.63
$2.28$2.28
-3.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.61SHP 8.65
$10.12$10.12
14.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.63SHP 11.65
$14.94$14.94
4.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.97$1.97
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66$3.66
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.43$2.43
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.56SHP 30.22
$64.7$64.7
-37.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76SHP 2.06
$3.83$3.83
-27.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.78$1.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$30.45$30.45
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.51SHP 1.87
$0.88$0.88
185.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.3K$30.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.9K$25.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$205$205
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$57.6$57.6
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$163SHP 122
$71.9$71.9
126.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.52SHP 10.07
$45.53$45.53
-70.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.32$22.32
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$13.82$13.82
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$1,374$1,374
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$23.0K$23.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.21SHP 30.70
$51.3$51.3
-19.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.44SHP 15.23
$43.35$43.35
-52.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.89SHP 35.67
$91.2$91.2
-47.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$115$115
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$690SHP 514
$1,761$1,761
-60.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$613SHP 457
$1,428$1,428
-57.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$723SHP 539
$2,843$2,843
-74.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$654SHP 487
$2,380$2,380
-72.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,299$3,299
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,587$2,587
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helena
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$764SHP 569
$4,234$4,234
-81.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.2
6.51
-4.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Helena: June 9, 2026
Last update for United States: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $721 in Saint Helena, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $689 in Jamestown vs $1,583 in Washington, MI.
💰National salary averages: $777 in Saint Helena, $4,496 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 127% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 26% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 64% more expensive in Saint Helena.
⭐Salaries are 479% higher in United States, giving United States 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Saint Helena and United States?
At $890 per month in Saint Helena and $3,271 in United States, there's a 268% 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 United States 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 United States?
In Saint Helena, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United States, 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 United States?
It depends on what you're after. Saint Helena wins on affordability; United States 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