Cost of Living Comparison Between Simpson Bay and Philipsburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Simpson Bay and Philipsburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,648 in Simpson Bay versus $3,135 in Philipsburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,397 in Simpson Bay versus $5,748 in Philipsburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,145 in Simpson Bay versus $8,362 in Philipsburg.

Living in Simpson Bay is roughly 16% more expensive than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Simpson Bay 173% above, Philipsburg 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.83 ANG 38.97

$14.96 ANG 26.70

45.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$139 ANG 248

$75.2 ANG 134

84.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 ANG 14.68

Cappuccino

$2.91 ANG 5.20

$4.26 ANG 7.60

-31.69%

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

$2.95 ANG 5.26

$2.91 ANG 5.20

1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ANG 5.43

$3.69 ANG 6.59

-17.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.41 ANG 9.66

$2.92 ANG 5.21

85.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 ANG 7.35

$4.93 ANG 8.80

-16.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.62 ANG 8.25

$3.09 ANG 5.51

49.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 ANG 4.39

$3.05 ANG 5.44

-19.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 ANG 4.43

$2.94 ANG 5.25

-15.65%

Eggs

$4.13 ANG 7.37

$6.45 ANG 11.50

-35.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.38 ANG 32.81

$18.48 ANG 32.99

-0.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.97 ANG 24.93

$17.19 ANG 30.68

-18.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.56 ANG 27.78

$19.73 ANG 35.23

-21.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 ANG 6.58

$5.85 ANG 10.44

-36.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 ANG 5.19

$5.96 ANG 10.64

-51.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 ANG 9.30

$9.14 ANG 16.31

-43.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 ANG 7.10

$6.50 ANG 11.61

-38.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 ANG 5.33

$3.94 ANG 7.04

-24.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ANG 3.67

$3.95 ANG 7.06

-47.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.95 ANG 5.27

$4.63 ANG 8.26

-36.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ANG 2.59

$2.05 ANG 3.65

-29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.18 ANG 14.59

Wine (Bottle)

$15.13 ANG 27.01

$11.20 ANG 20.00

35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ANG 1.75

$3.22 ANG 5.75

-69.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ANG 2.72

$2.87 ANG 5.13

-47.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.16 ANG 3.86

$1.53 ANG 2.73

41.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.86 ANG 17.60

$15.02 ANG 26.81

-34.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.94 ANG 8.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ANG 2.51

$1.38 ANG 2.46

2.17%

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

$507 ANG 905

$226 ANG 404

124.30%

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

$35.34 ANG 63.1

$32.10 ANG 57.3

10.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.2 ANG 159

$69.6 ANG 124

28.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 ANG 111

Cinema Ticket

$8.61 ANG 15.36

$13.14 ANG 23.46

-34.47%

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

$1,009 ANG 1,801

$380 ANG 678

165.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K ANG 21.4K

$11.4K ANG 20.4K

4.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 ANG 141

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,295 ANG 4,097

$1,988 ANG 3,549

15.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,288 ANG 4,084

$1,876 ANG 3,349

21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,494 ANG 11.6K

$5,677 ANG 10.1K

14.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,963 ANG 10.6K

$5,739 ANG 10.2K

3.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,126 ANG 2,010

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

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

Last update for Simpson Bay: July 12, 2026

Last update for Philipsburg: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,295 in Simpson Bay and $1,988 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $139 in Simpson Bay vs $75.0 in Philipsburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $426 vs $541, with Simpson Bay 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

Simpson Bay vs Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Philipsburg wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Simpson Bay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Philipsburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $5,473 in Simpson Bay and $4,702 in Philipsburg 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,295 in Simpson Bay versus $1,988 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Simpson Bay pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,648 per month in Simpson Bay versus $3,135 in Philipsburg – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Philipsburg 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.

Expats usually find Philipsburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Simpson Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.