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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $5,829 in Saint John Island versus $4,337 in St Thomas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,948 in Saint John Island versus $7,106 in St Thomas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $10.1K in Saint John Island versus $9,874 in St Thomas.

Living in Saint John Island is roughly 34% more expensive than St Thomas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John Island 335% above, St Thomas 224% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.96 $30.96

$20.08 $20.08

54.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$159 $159

-7.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.80 $11.80

26.10%

Cappuccino

$8.87 $8.87

$7.16 $7.16

23.88%

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

$3.55 $3.55

$4.02 $4.02

-11.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.38 $3.38

2.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.62 $6.62

-22.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$9.82 $9.82

-29.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.46 $2.46

25.20%

White Bread (500g)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.71 $6.71

17.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$18.52 $18.52

-34.23%

Eggs

$11.90 $11.90

$8.76 $8.76

35.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.26 $32.26

$11.30 $11.30

185.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.64 $32.64

$32.42 $32.42

0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.18 $24.18

$40.30 $40.30

-40.00%

Apples (1kg)

$21.87 $21.87

$11.90 $11.90

83.78%

Banana (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$11.06 $11.06

-63.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

$12.25 $12.25

43.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$19.63 $19.63

-39.28%

Potato (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$1.94 $1.94

288.14%

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$8.81 $8.81

-13.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.88 $4.88

$7.93 $7.93

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$5.92 $5.92

-41.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.24 $9.24

Wine (Bottle)

$23.16 $23.16

$25.03 $25.03

-7.47%

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

$2.01 $2.01

254.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$151 $151

$60.9 $60.9

147.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

$19.88 $19.88

52.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.08 $3.08

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.33 $1.33

18.80%

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

$47.1K $47.1K

$55.5K $55.5K

-15.15%

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

$53.2K $53.2K

$38.2K $38.2K

39.48%

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

$298 $298

$392 $392

-24.11%

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

$100 $100

$99.3 $99.3

0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$129 $129

-20.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

Cinema Ticket

$12.03 $12.03

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,497 $1,497

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 $80.3

$115 $115

-30.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$151 $151

-66.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$204 $204

-57.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 $99.6

$150 $150

-33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,934 $3,934

$1,443 $1,443

172.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,471 $3,471

$1,781 $1,781

94.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,904 $4,904

$3,252 $3,252

50.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,533 $4,533

$4,334 $4,334

4.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,872 $4,872

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,505 $4,505

$2,806 $2,806

60.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

-25.93%

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 Thomas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,934 in Saint John Island and $1,443 in St Thomas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John Island pays 61% 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 $159 in St Thomas. Groceries flip the comparison at $981 vs $979, with St Thomas 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 Thomas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St Thomas wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Saint John Island. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making St Thomas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Saint John Island pays 61% 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 $1,443 in St Thomas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% 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 $4,337 in St Thomas – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $5,000. St Thomas 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 Thomas 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 Thomas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.