Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Alexandria Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Alexandria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Santa Cruz versus $868 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,448 in Santa Cruz versus $1,435 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Santa Cruz versus $2,001 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs are close between Santa Cruz and Alexandria; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Cruz 35% lower, Alexandria 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.44 JMD 1,172

$7.53 JMD 1,185

-1.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,961

$61.9 JMD 9,740

2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,379

$8.88 JMD 1,398

-1.35%

Cappuccino

$4.35 JMD 685

$4.28 JMD 674

1.64%

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

$1.35 JMD 213

$1.36 JMD 214

-0.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$0.70 JMD 110

1.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 384

$2.47 JMD 390

-1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 498

$3.06 JMD 483

3.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.44 JMD 699

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 JMD 569

$3.55 JMD 559

1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 248

$1.61 JMD 253

-1.86%

Eggs

$3.58 JMD 564

$3.61 JMD 569

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.92 JMD 1,719

$11.14 JMD 1,755

-1.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 JMD 1,029

$6.43 JMD 1,012

1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$7.78 JMD 1,225

-2.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.93 JMD 934

$5.89 JMD 928

0.68%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 JMD 474

$3.13 JMD 493

-3.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 653

$4.33 JMD 683

-4.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 JMD 475

$2.94 JMD 464

2.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 330

$2.09 JMD 328

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 314

$1.93 JMD 305

3.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 468

$3.11 JMD 490

-4.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 233

$1.48 JMD 234

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.88 JMD 1,398

$8.91 JMD 1,403

-0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.15 JMD 1,756

$11.41 JMD 1,797

-2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 JMD 452

$2.78 JMD 437

3.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.18 JMD 501

-2.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 JMD 487

$3.14 JMD 495

-1.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 JMD 1,001

$6.41 JMD 1,010

-0.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.91%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$43.5K JMD 6.8M

-1.45%

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

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

1.48%

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

$161 JMD 25.4K

-0.09%

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

$21.95 JMD 3,457

$22.42 JMD 3,531

-2.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.8 JMD 8,162

$50.5 JMD 7,955

2.59%

Cinema Ticket

$13.26 JMD 2,087

$13.41 JMD 2,111

-1.12%

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

$227 JMD 35.7K

-0.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,505 JMD 394.4K

$2,469 JMD 388.7K

1.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 JMD 4,057

$26.41 JMD 4,159

-2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.96 JMD 4,087

$25.67 JMD 4,042

1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

$70.3 JMD 11.1K

-0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.2 JMD 12.0K

$76.4 JMD 12.0K

-0.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 JMD 63.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Santa Cruz vs $62.0 in Alexandria. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $353, with Santa Cruz 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

Santa Cruz vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Santa Cruz and $1,302 in Alexandria to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $227 in Santa Cruz versus $227 in Alexandria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Santa Cruz pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Alexandria gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Alexandria wins on affordability, Santa Cruz on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.