😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,357 in Sint Maarten versus $1,646 in Spain.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,053 in Sint Maarten versus $2,401 in Spain.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,748 in Sint Maarten versus $3,155 in Spain.
😐Living in Sint Maarten is roughly 104% more expensive than Spain on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Sint Maarten151% above, Spain23% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,133 to $3,262, compared to $3,079–$3,727 in Sint Maarten. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08ANG 30.49
$16.17€13.91
5.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.7ANG 157
$57.3€49.27
53.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.67ANG 15.48
$10.62€9.14
-18.36%
Cappuccino
$3.80ANG 6.79
$2.38€2.05
59.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96ANG 5.29
$2.59€2.23
14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59ANG 6.40
$1.91€1.64
87.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97ANG 5.31
$3.49€3.00
-14.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53ANG 8.08
$4.03€3.46
12.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.40ANG 6.07
$1.24€1.07
174.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79ANG 4.97
$1.59€1.37
75.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79ANG 4.99
$1.59€1.37
75.47%
Eggs
$5.48ANG 9.77
$3.05€2.62
79.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.47ANG 32.97
$14.55€12.52
26.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.63ANG 27.91
$8.42€7.24
85.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.81ANG 28.23
$15.52€13.35
1.87%
Apples(1kg)
$4.58ANG 8.17
$2.54€2.18
80.31%
Banana(1kg)
$3.25ANG 5.80
$2.01€1.73
61.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.03ANG 10.76
$2.09€1.80
188.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68ANG 8.35
$2.53€2.18
84.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.28ANG 5.85
$1.85€1.59
77.30%
Onion(1kg)
$3.38ANG 6.04
$1.89€1.63
78.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.78ANG 6.75
$1.35€1.16
180.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71ANG 3.05
$0.74€0.64
131.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12ANG 14.49
$6.35€5.47
27.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.28ANG 20.13
$5.66€4.87
99.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17ANG 3.87
$1.25€1.08
73.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10ANG 3.75
$2.06€1.77
1.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33ANG 4.16
$1.69€1.46
37.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.7ANG 165
$35.10€30.20
164.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.95ANG 17.76
$4.42€3.80
125.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.52ANG 9.85
$1.34€1.15
311.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91ANG 10.54
$26.32€22.64
-77.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49ANG 2.66
$1.84€1.58
-19.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6KANG 33.3K
$38.8K€33.4K
-51.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8KANG 26.4K
$31.6K€27.2K
-53.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$364ANG 650
$150€129
142.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.66ANG 69.0
$20.56€17.69
88.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3ANG 122
$34.49€29.67
98.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1ANG 114
$47.96€41.25
33.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.06ANG 41.16
$16.05€13.80
43.68%
Cinema Ticket
$12.93ANG 23.09
$8.99€7.73
43.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$679ANG 1,213
$509€438
33.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KANG 21.2K
$9,884€8,502
20.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3ANG 124
$86.5€74.4
-19.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.98ANG 82.1
$37.14€31.95
23.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.2ANG 145
$92.0€79.1
-11.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0ANG 121
$109€93.6
-37.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,340ANG 4,177
$1,045€899
123.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,254ANG 4,024
$834€717
170.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,429ANG 11.5K
$1,689€1,453
280.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,385ANG 11.4K
$1,238€1,065
415.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,378€3,766
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.0KANG 21.4K
$2,747€2,363
335.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,805ANG 3,221
$2,073€1,783
-12.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
3.51
56.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sint Maarten: June 1, 2026
Last update for Spain: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $2,214 in Sint Maarten, $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $1,978 in Philipsburg vs $1,566 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $2,078 in Sint Maarten, $2,030 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 147% higher in Sint Maarten.
⭐Dining out costs 34% more in Sint Maarten.
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
Sint Maarten vs Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Sint Maarten and Spain?
At $3,403 per month in Sint Maarten and $2,198 in Spain, there's a 55% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Spain is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Sint Maarten beats Spain across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Sint Maarten or Spain?
In Spain, $3,000 covers most cities easily. In Sint Maarten, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Sint Maarten or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. Spain wins on affordability; Sint Maarten may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Sint Maarten vs other spots: cost of living compared