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: $5,829 in Saint John Island versus $3,167 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,948 in Saint John Island versus $4,754 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $10.1K in Saint John Island versus $6,340 in St John.

Living in Saint John Island is roughly 84% more expensive than St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John Island 335% above, St John 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.96 $30.96

$17.84 $17.84

73.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$165 $165

-11.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.27 $8.27

79.93%

Cappuccino

$8.87 $8.87

$6.45 $6.45

37.52%

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

$3.55 $3.55

$3.01 $3.01

17.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.06 $2.06

68.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.42 $6.42

-20.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.82 $6.82

0.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.87 $2.87

7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$7.88 $7.88

$5.60 $5.60

40.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$1.45 $1.45

740.00%

Eggs

$11.90 $11.90

$6.49 $6.49

83.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.26 $32.26

$17.38 $17.38

85.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.64 $32.64

$26.86 $26.86

21.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.18 $24.18

Apples (1kg)

$21.87 $21.87

Banana (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.10 $5.10

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

Tomato (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$8.57 $8.57

39.09%

Potato (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$4.30 $4.30

76.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.94 $4.94

-1.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.24 $9.24

Wine (Bottle)

$23.16 $23.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.48 $4.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.86 $5.86

3.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.84 $5.84

21.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$151 $151

$139 $139

8.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 $3.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.62 $1.62

-2.47%

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

$47.1K $47.1K

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

$53.2K $53.2K

$22.4K $22.4K

137.89%

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

$298 $298

$244 $244

22.09%

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

$100 $100

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$59.0 $59.0

72.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K $13.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 $80.3

$98.0 $98.0

-18.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$60.4 $60.4

-16.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$49.14 $49.14

74.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 $99.6

$50.6 $50.6

96.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,934 $3,934

$2,219 $2,219

77.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,471 $3,471

$1,831 $1,831

89.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,904 $4,904

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,533 $4,533

$2,951 $2,951

53.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.2K $13.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,505 $4,505

$4,059 $4,059

10.99%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for St John: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,934 in Saint John Island and $2,219 in St John. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John Island pays 11% 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: $147 in Saint John Island vs $165 in St John. Groceries flip the comparison at $981 vs $416, 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 84% 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.

Saint John Island pays 11% more on average, 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: $3,934 in Saint John Island versus $2,219 in St John. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 136% higher in Saint John Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $5,829 per month in Saint John Island versus $3,167 in St John – a 84% 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 84% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.