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: $319 in St John versus $6,089 in Saint John Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $931 in St John versus $8,276 in Saint John Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,542 in St John versus $10.5K in Saint John Island.

Living in St John costs roughly 95% less than in Saint John Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St John is 77% below, Saint John Island is 345% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.87 $19.87

$71.0 $71.0

-72.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 $177

$152 $152

16.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.84 $14.84

Cappuccino

$6.91 $6.91

$8.90 $8.90

-22.36%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$3.57 $3.57

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.45 $3.45

-43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$4.98 $4.98

60.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$6.95 $6.95

15.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.22 $3.22

White Bread (500g)

$7.97 $7.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.05 $12.05

Eggs

$11.99 $11.99

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.03 $32.03

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.91 $32.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.48 $24.48

Apples (1kg)

$22.20 $22.20

Banana (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

Oranges (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

Tomato (1kg)

$11.78 $11.78

Potato (1kg)

$7.56 $7.56

Onion (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.11 $5.11

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.84 $8.84

Wine (Bottle)

$23.42 $23.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 $6.12

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.20 $7.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.02 $30.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.82 $49.82

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.60 $1.60

-3.75%

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

$48.4K $48.4K

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

$52.1K $52.1K

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

$297 $297

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

$101 $101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 $104

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K $13.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 $80.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.33 $49.33

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 $99.4

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,074 $4,074

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,451 $3,451

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,972 $4,972

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,511 $4,511

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K $12.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,032 $5,032

$4,423 $4,423

13.78%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Saint John Island: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $177 in St John vs $152 in Saint John Island for two.

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 1807% 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.

Average pay runs 14% higher in St John, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in St John – a meal for two runs $177 versus $152 in Saint John Island. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $319 per month in St John versus $6,089 in Saint John Island – a 1807% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $319 in St John versus $6,089 in Saint John Island, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Saint John Island. The gap between the two cities makes St John the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 1807% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.