Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Cruz Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Cruz Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $5,791 in Saint John Island versus $2,902 in Cruz Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,876 in Saint John Island versus $4,670 in Cruz Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,961 in Saint John Island versus $6,438 in Cruz Bay.

Living in Saint John Island is roughly 100% more expensive than Cruz Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John Island 332% above, Cruz Bay 117% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.34 $31.34

$30.47 $30.47

2.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$152 $152

$93.1 $93.1

63.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.95 $14.95

$17.23 $17.23

-13.23%

Cappuccino

$8.98 $8.98

$8.88 $8.88

1.13%

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

$3.43 $3.43

$3.03 $3.03

13.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.99 $3.99

-11.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$7.88 $7.88

-36.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$9.09 $9.09

-20.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.40 $3.40

-4.71%

White Bread (500g)

$8.06 $8.06

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.81 $11.81

Eggs

$11.85 $11.85

$4.93 $4.93

140.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.39 $31.39

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.54 $32.54

$15.65 $15.65

107.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.73 $23.73

Apples (1kg)

$21.67 $21.67

$8.72 $8.72

148.51%

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

Oranges (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

Tomato (1kg)

$12.11 $12.11

Potato (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

Onion (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.95 $4.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

Wine (Bottle)

$22.73 $22.73

$24.56 $24.56

-7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.86 $6.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.9K $47.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$52.2K $52.2K

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

$305 $305

$351 $351

-13.17%

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

$98.5 $98.5

$140 $140

-29.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 $104

$60.0 $60.0

73.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.3 $88.3

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K $12.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.4 $80.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.2 $50.2

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,058 $4,058

$1,815 $1,815

123.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,478 $3,478

$1,474 $1,474

135.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,035 $5,035

$3,499 $3,499

43.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,520 $4,520

$3,468 $3,468

30.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,554 $4,554

$6,134 $6,134

-25.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Saint John Island: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cruz Bay: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,058 in Saint John Island and $1,815 in Cruz Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cruz Bay pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $152 in Saint John Island vs $93.0 in Cruz Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $979 vs $225 per month, with Cruz Bay cheaper across the board.

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 John Island vs Cruz Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John Island and Cruz Bay differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($5,791 vs $2,902 including rent). Cruz Bay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Cruz Bay earns 35% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,058 in Saint John Island versus $1,815 in Cruz Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cruz Bay – a meal for two runs $93.0 versus $152 in Saint John Island. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $5,791 per month in Saint John Island versus $2,902 in Cruz Bay – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Cruz Bay 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.

Safety-wise, Saint John Island and Cruz Bay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cruz Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.