Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Charlotte Amalie Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Charlotte Amalie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,105 per month in St John vs $1,924 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,790 per month in St John vs $2,037 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,476 per month in St John vs $2,149 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

St John costs about 61% more than Charlotte Amalie, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both St John and Charlotte Amalie sit above the global median – St John by 132%, Charlotte Amalie by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.56 $17.56

$25.28 $25.28

-30.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$161 $161

$99.7 $99.7

61.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 $8.60

$11.93 $11.93

-27.91%

Cappuccino

$6.38 $6.38

$7.65 $7.65

-16.60%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$2.26 $2.26

33.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.19 $2.19

-6.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 $6.32

$7.16 $7.16

-11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$9.13 $9.13

-22.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.84 $2.84

0.35%

White Bread (500g)

$5.88 $5.88

$8.96 $8.96

-34.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

Eggs

$6.22 $6.22

$6.91 $6.91

-9.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.40 $17.40

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.03 $26.03

Banana (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

Tomato (1kg)

$8.88 $8.88

Onion (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.92 $4.92

Wine (Bottle)

$20.06 $20.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.84 $5.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.50 $1.50

7.33%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

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

$243 $243

$301 $301

-19.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$118 $118

-48.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K $13.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.7 $98.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.0 $60.0

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 $50.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.5 $50.5

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,217 $2,217

$2,036 $2,036

8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,799 $1,799

$938 $938

91.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,996 $2,996

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.2K $13.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,039 $4,039

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

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

Last update for St John: April 27, 2026

Last update for Charlotte Amalie: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,217 in St John versus $2,036 in Charlotte Amalie. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $161 in St John versus $100 in Charlotte Amalie. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $186 – making Charlotte Amalie the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

St John vs Charlotte Amalie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – St John is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,657 per month in St John and $2,886 in Charlotte Amalie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Charlotte Amalie, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 123% more in St John, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $161 in St John and $100 in Charlotte Amalie. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,105 in St John and $1,924 in Charlotte Amalie. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Charlotte Amalie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Charlotte Amalie. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St John makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.