Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Cruz Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Cruz Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,167 in St John versus $2,860 in Cruz Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,754 in St John versus $4,537 in Cruz Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,340 in St John versus $6,214 in Cruz Bay.

Living in St John is roughly 11% more expensive than Cruz Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: St John 136% above, Cruz Bay 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.84 $17.84

$30.32 $30.32

-41.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$165 $165

$91.2 $91.2

81.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 $8.27

$17.31 $17.31

-52.22%

Cappuccino

$6.45 $6.45

$9.11 $9.11

-29.20%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.93 $2.93

2.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.92 $3.92

-47.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.42 $6.42

$7.96 $7.96

-19.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$9.26 $9.26

-26.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.43 $3.43

-16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$5.60 $5.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

Eggs

$6.49 $6.49

$5.02 $5.02

29.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.86 $26.86

$15.60 $15.60

72.18%

Apples (1kg)

$8.89 $8.89

Banana (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

Tomato (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

Onion (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.94 $4.94

Wine (Bottle)

$24.64 $24.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.84 $5.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 $3.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

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

$22.4K $22.4K

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

$244 $244

$354 $354

-31.10%

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

$142 $142

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.0 $59.0

$60.9 $60.9

-3.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.8 $91.8

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K $13.7K

$12.8K $12.8K

6.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.0 $98.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 $60.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.14 $49.14

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.6 $50.6

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,219 $2,219

$1,831 $1,831

21.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,831 $1,831

$1,470 $1,470

24.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,541 $3,541

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,951 $2,951

$3,509 $3,509

-15.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.2K $13.2K

$10.6K $10.6K

24.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,059 $4,059

$6,260 $6,260

-35.16%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cruz Bay: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,219 in St John and $1,831 in Cruz Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cruz Bay pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $165 in St John vs $91.0 in Cruz Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $226 per month, with Cruz Bay cheaper across the board.

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 Cruz Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John and Cruz Bay differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($3,167 vs $2,860 including rent). Cruz Bay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Cruz Bay earns 54% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,219 in St John versus $1,831 in Cruz Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cruz Bay – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $165 in St John. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,167 per month in St John versus $2,860 in Cruz Bay – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Cruz Bay 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.

Safety-wise, St John and Cruz Bay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cruz Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in St John. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.