Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and St John Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and St John

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $5,712 in Saint John Island versus $3,185 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,781 in Saint John Island versus $4,803 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,850 in Saint John Island versus $6,421 in St John.

Living in Saint John Island is roughly 79% more expensive than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John Island 328% above, St John 138% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.58 $31.58

$17.69 $17.69

78.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 $149

$162 $162

-8.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.14 $15.14

$8.54 $8.54

77.28%

Cappuccino

$8.98 $8.98

$6.40 $6.40

40.31%

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

$3.49 $3.49

$2.96 $2.96

17.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.95 $1.95

78.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$6.44 $6.44

-21.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$6.94 $6.94

-1.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.78 $2.78

11.15%

White Bread (500g)

$7.95 $7.95

$5.90 $5.90

34.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.83 $11.83

$1.52 $1.52

678.29%

Eggs

$11.80 $11.80

$6.31 $6.31

87.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.60 $32.60

$17.47 $17.47

86.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.88 $32.88

$26.91 $26.91

22.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.82 $23.82

Apples (1kg)

$22.12 $22.12

Banana (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.91 $4.91

-17.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.56 $17.56

Tomato (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$8.93 $8.93

32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$7.55 $7.55

Onion (1kg)

$7.54 $7.54

$4.43 $4.43

70.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.92 $4.92

$5.05 $5.05

-2.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 $9.17

Wine (Bottle)

$23.45 $23.45

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.41 $4.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.04 $6.04

1.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.07 $6.07

14.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$147 $147

$140 $140

5.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.37 $30.37

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.18 $3.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.61 $1.61

-3.73%

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

$47.3K $47.3K

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

$52.0K $52.0K

$23.1K $23.1K

125.23%

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

$296 $296

$247 $247

19.48%

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

$101 $101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$60.7 $60.7

67.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K $13.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.4 $79.4

$99.6 $99.6

-20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.85 $49.85

$59.1 $59.1

-15.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 $84.2

$49.19 $49.19

71.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.5 $99.5

$49.03 $49.03

102.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,935 $3,935

$2,168 $2,168

81.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,468 $3,468

$1,769 $1,769

96.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,992 $4,992

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,538 $4,538

$3,027 $3,027

49.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.8K $12.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,537 $4,537

$4,011 $4,011

13.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

-0.71%

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

Last update for Saint John Island: July 14, 2026

Last update for St John: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,935 in Saint John Island and $2,168 in St John. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John Island pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $149 in Saint John Island vs $162 in St John. Groceries flip the comparison at $982 vs $420, with St John 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

Saint John Island vs St John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Saint John Island. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making St John the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Saint John Island, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,935 in Saint John Island versus $2,168 in St John. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 134% higher in Saint John Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $5,712 per month in Saint John Island versus $3,185 in St John – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. St John 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 St John 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 St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.