Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John's and Jolly Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John's and Jolly Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,857 per month in Saint John's vs $1,257 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,872 per month in Saint John's vs $1,890 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,887 per month in Saint John's vs $2,524 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

Saint John's costs about 48% more than Jolly Harbour, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saint John's sits 35% above the global median, while Jolly Harbour is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.01 EC$59.4

$9.00 EC$24.29

144.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 EC$200

$74.7 EC$202

-0.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 EC$29.48

$7.59 EC$20.50

43.87%

Cappuccino

$3.78 EC$10.20

$5.47 EC$14.77

-30.90%

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

$1.97 EC$5.32

$2.28 EC$6.16

-13.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 EC$2.43

$1.10 EC$2.97

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 EC$4.92

$5.57 EC$15.05

-67.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 EC$12.30

$4.42 EC$11.93

3.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 EC$6.07

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 EC$7.43

$2.89 EC$7.79

-4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 EC$5.12

$5.43 EC$14.65

-65.01%

Eggs

$6.78 EC$18.30

$7.76 EC$20.94

-12.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.06 EC$21.77

$5.71 EC$15.41

41.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 EC$22.47

$6.42 EC$17.34

29.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.54 EC$44.67

Apples (1kg)

$6.69 EC$18.06

$5.62 EC$15.16

19.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 EC$6.80

$1.89 EC$5.10

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.28 EC$22.35

$2.97 EC$8.03

178.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.11 EC$21.90

$5.62 EC$15.17

44.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 EC$7.68

$5.41 EC$14.59

-47.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 EC$7.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 EC$6.79

$6.38 EC$17.23

-60.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 EC$4.29

Wine (Bottle)

$5.60 EC$15.12

$13.05 EC$35.23

-57.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 EC$7.78

$1.27 EC$3.43

126.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 EC$11.67

$1.82 EC$4.93

137.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 EC$4.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.58 EC$15.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 EC$4.40

$0.69 EC$1.85

136.23%

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

$256 EC$690

$511 EC$1,379

-49.96%

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

$41.37 EC$112

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.0 EC$221

$66.8 EC$180

22.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.7 EC$177

$75.3 EC$203

-12.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.5 EC$147

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 EC$16.73

$16.41 EC$44.30

-62.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,836 EC$4,956

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 EC$136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 EC$196

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 EC$2,849

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 EC$1,834

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,670 EC$4,510

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 EC$3,966

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,366 EC$3,688

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

-8.33%

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

Last update for Saint John's: September 5, 2026

Last update for Jolly Harbour: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Saint John's versus $75.0 in Jolly Harbour. Groceries tell a different story – $350 in Saint John's vs $338 in Jolly Harbour – so Jolly Harbour wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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's vs Jolly Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John's costs about 48% more than Jolly Harbour, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,785 per month in Saint John's and $1,885 in Jolly Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,857 in Saint John's and $1,257 in Jolly Harbour. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Saint John's, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jolly Harbour, where all-in costs run around $1,257, than in Saint John's at $1,857. In Jolly Harbour it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John's it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jolly Harbour costs $1,257 versus $1,857 in Saint John's. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jolly Harbour. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John's makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.