😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,098 in Sint Maarten versus $2,626 in United States.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,671 in Sint Maarten versus $3,830 in United States.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,244 in Sint Maarten versus $5,033 in United States.
🌍Living in Sint Maarten is roughly 18% more expensive than in United States on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Sint Maarten 125% above, United States 90% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in United States: monthly costs span $986 to $5,298, compared to $2,339–$3,822 in Sint Maarten. City choice carries more weight in United States.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.14ANG 30.60
$19.83$19.83
-13.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0ANG 132
$78.8$78.8
-6.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.93ANG 17.73
$12.19$12.19
-18.54%
Cappuccino
$4.38ANG 7.81
$5.59$5.59
-21.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08ANG 5.50
$2.78$2.78
10.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58ANG 6.39
$2.18$2.18
64.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89ANG 6.94
$5.86$5.86
-33.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61ANG 10.01
$8.02$8.02
-30.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.60ANG 6.42
$1.07$1.07
236.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77ANG 4.94
$3.68$3.68
-24.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.99ANG 5.33
$4.66$4.66
-35.84%
Eggs
$5.12ANG 9.14
$4.20$4.20
21.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.61ANG 36.78
$12.78$12.78
61.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.38ANG 25.67
$12.40$12.40
15.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.07ANG 28.69
$16.90$16.90
-4.91%
Apples(1kg)
$5.16ANG 9.21
$5.23$5.23
-1.34%
Banana(1kg)
$5.11ANG 9.12
$1.66$1.66
207.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$9.16ANG 16.34
$4.33$4.33
111.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.41ANG 13.22
$4.96$4.96
49.40%
Potato(1kg)
$4.43ANG 7.91
$2.82$2.82
57.09%
Onion(1kg)
$3.73ANG 6.65
$3.11$3.11
19.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.08ANG 7.28
$2.19$2.19
86.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39ANG 2.48
$2.26$2.26
-38.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.01ANG 14.31
$10.35$10.35
-22.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.85ANG 19.37
$14.81$14.81
-26.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.12ANG 9.14
$2.09$2.09
144.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78ANG 3.17
$3.65$3.65
-51.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.02ANG 5.39
$2.38$2.38
26.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$1.54ANG 2.75
$64.5$64.5
-97.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$19.97ANG 35.64
$3.54$3.54
464.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.86$1.86
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$30.34$30.34
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32ANG 2.35
$1.00$1.00
32.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.5K$35.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.9K$25.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$383ANG 683
$222$222
72.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.65ANG 67.2
$61.1$61.1
-38.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.9ANG 135
$74.7$74.7
1.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.6ANG 119
$44.49$44.49
49.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.35$22.35
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.79ANG 15.69
$15.03$15.03
-41.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$587ANG 1,048
$1,431$1,431
-58.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KANG 21.2K
$25.9K$25.9K
-54.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.07ANG 87.6
$53.6$53.6
-8.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.37ANG 70.3
$43.46$43.46
-9.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.7ANG 176
$91.5$91.5
7.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.7ANG 107
$114$114
-47.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,262ANG 4,037
$1,633$1,633
38.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,305ANG 4,115
$1,328$1,328
73.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,482ANG 11.6K
$2,606$2,606
148.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,407ANG 11.4K
$2,206$2,206
190.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,323$3,323
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.8KANG 21.0K
$2,653$2,653
344.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint Maarten
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,827ANG 3,262
$4,306$4,306
-57.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.21
-19.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sint Maarten: September 5, 2026
Last update for United States: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $2,240 in Sint Maarten, $1,604 in United States. Capital cities: $2,165 in Philipsburg vs $1,360 in Columbia, TN.
💰National salary averages: $2,061 in Sint Maarten, $4,526 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 40% higher in Sint Maarten.
⭐Dining out costs 12% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 2600% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 120% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.
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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Sint Maarten and United States?
At $3,081 per month in Sint Maarten and $3,142 in United States, there's a 2% 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 Sint Maarten: 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 United States is consistently higher than in Sint Maarten across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Sint Maarten or in United States?
In Sint Maarten, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in United States 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 United States?
It depends on what you're after: Sint Maarten wins on affordability; United States 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