😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,098 in Sint Maarten versus $1,689 in Spain.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,671 in Sint Maarten versus $2,496 in Spain.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,244 in Sint Maarten versus $3,303 in Spain.
🌍Living in Sint Maarten is roughly 83% more expensive than in Spain on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Sint Maarten 125% above, Spain 22% above.
📏Sint Maarten ($2,339–$3,822) and Spain ($973–$2,672) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.14ANG 30.60
$17.71€15.27
-3.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0ANG 132
$57.6€49.61
28.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.93ANG 17.73
$11.81€10.18
-15.92%
Cappuccino
$4.38ANG 7.81
$2.43€2.10
80.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08ANG 5.50
$2.76€2.38
11.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58ANG 6.39
$1.84€1.59
94.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89ANG 6.94
$3.52€3.03
10.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61ANG 10.01
$4.16€3.58
34.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.60ANG 6.42
$1.21€1.04
197.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77ANG 4.94
$1.54€1.32
79.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99ANG 5.33
$1.64€1.41
82.32%
Eggs
$5.12ANG 9.14
$3.59€3.10
42.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.61ANG 36.78
$14.81€12.77
39.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.38ANG 25.67
$8.49€7.32
69.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.07ANG 28.69
$16.68€14.38
-3.66%
Apples(1kg)
$5.16ANG 9.21
$2.53€2.18
103.95%
Banana(1kg)
$5.11ANG 9.12
$2.09€1.80
144.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$9.16ANG 16.34
$2.13€1.84
330.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.41ANG 13.22
$2.55€2.20
190.59%
Potato(1kg)
$4.43ANG 7.91
$1.82€1.57
143.41%
Onion(1kg)
$3.73ANG 6.65
$2.00€1.72
86.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.08ANG 7.28
$1.37€1.18
197.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39ANG 2.48
$0.81€0.70
71.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.01ANG 14.31
$6.71€5.79
19.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.85ANG 19.37
$5.64€4.87
92.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.12ANG 9.14
$1.29€1.11
296.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78ANG 3.17
$2.10€1.81
-15.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.02ANG 5.39
$1.76€1.51
71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$1.54ANG 2.75
$34.25€29.52
-95.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$19.97ANG 35.64
$4.55€3.92
338.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.47€1.27
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$25.66€22.12
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32ANG 2.35
$1.79€1.54
-26.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$36.4K€31.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$30.6K€26.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$383ANG 683
$152€131
151.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.65ANG 67.2
$18.49€15.94
103.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.9ANG 135
$33.57€28.94
126.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.6ANG 119
$47.38€40.84
40.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.56€13.41
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.79ANG 15.69
$9.96€8.59
-11.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$587ANG 1,048
$548€473
7.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KANG 21.2K
$10.8K€9,343
9.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.07ANG 87.6
$90.1€77.6
-45.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.37ANG 70.3
$37.31€32.16
5.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.7ANG 176
$92.0€79.3
7.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.7ANG 107
$111€96.1
-46.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,262ANG 4,037
$1,049€905
115.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,305ANG 4,115
$836€720
175.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,482ANG 11.6K
$1,663€1,433
289.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,407ANG 11.4K
$1,250€1,078
412.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,240€3,655
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.8KANG 21.0K
$2,711€2,337
334.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint Maarten
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,827ANG 3,262
$2,021€1,742
-9.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.28
52.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sint Maarten: September 5, 2026
Last update for Spain: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $2,240 in Sint Maarten, $931 in Spain. Capital cities: $2,165 in Philipsburg vs $1,577 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $2,061 in Sint Maarten, $2,035 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 141% higher in Sint Maarten.
⭐Dining out costs 14% more in Sint Maarten.
⭐Public transport is 3000% more expensive in Spain.
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 $3,081 per month in Sint Maarten and $1,823 in Spain, there's a 69% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Spain: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Spain?
In Spain, $3,000 covers most cities easily; in Sint Maarten it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Sint Maarten or to 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