Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Saint John Island Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Saint John Island

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,105 in St John versus $5,791 in Saint John Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,790 in St John versus $7,876 in Saint John Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,476 in St John versus $9,961 in Saint John Island.

Living in St John costs roughly 46% less than in Saint John Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: St John 132% above, Saint John Island 332% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.56 $17.56

$31.34 $31.34

-43.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$161 $161

$152 $152

5.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 $8.60

$14.95 $14.95

-42.47%

Cappuccino

$6.38 $6.38

$8.98 $8.98

-28.95%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$3.43 $3.43

-11.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.55 $3.55

-42.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 $6.32

$4.99 $4.99

26.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$7.19 $7.19

-0.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.24 $3.24

-12.04%

White Bread (500g)

$5.88 $5.88

$8.06 $8.06

-27.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$11.81 $11.81

-87.64%

Eggs

$6.22 $6.22

$11.85 $11.85

-47.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.40 $17.40

$31.39 $31.39

-44.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.03 $26.03

$32.54 $32.54

-20.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.73 $23.73

Apples (1kg)

$21.67 $21.67

Banana (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.96 $3.96

24.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

Tomato (1kg)

$8.88 $8.88

$12.11 $12.11

-26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

Onion (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$7.89 $7.89

-44.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.92 $4.92

$4.95 $4.95

-0.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

Wine (Bottle)

$22.73 $22.73

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 $5.90

$5.86 $5.86

0.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.86 $6.86

-14.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

$152 $152

-7.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.62 $1.62

-0.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.9K $47.9K

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$52.2K $52.2K

-55.42%

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

$243 $243

$305 $305

-20.24%

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

$98.5 $98.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$104 $104

-41.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K $13.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.7 $98.7

$80.4 $80.4

22.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.0 $60.0

$50.2 $50.2

19.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 $50.9

$86.6 $86.6

-41.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.5 $50.5

$100 $100

-49.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,217 $2,217

$4,058 $4,058

-45.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,799 $1,799

$3,478 $3,478

-48.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,035 $5,035

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,996 $2,996

$4,520 $4,520

-33.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.2K $13.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,039 $4,039

$4,554 $4,554

-11.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

0.71%

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

Last update for St John: April 27, 2026

Last update for Saint John Island: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,217 in St John and $4,058 in Saint John Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John Island pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $161 in St John vs $152 in Saint John Island. Groceries flip the comparison at $415 vs $979, with St John cheaper for home cooking.

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 Saint John Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John wins on cost – living expenses run 87% lower than in Saint John Island. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making St John the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Saint John Island earns 13% 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: $2,217 in St John versus $4,058 in Saint John Island. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 136% higher in Saint John Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,105 per month in St John versus $5,791 in Saint John Island – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. St John 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 Saint John Island 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 St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.