Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and St Thomas Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and St Thomas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $319 in St John versus $4,362 in St Thomas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $931 in St John versus $7,203 in St Thomas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,542 in St John versus $10.0K in St Thomas.

Living in St John costs roughly 93% less than in St Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St John is 77% below, St Thomas is 219% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.87 $19.87

$22.41 $22.41

-11.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 $177

$169 $169

4.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.25 $13.25

Cappuccino

$6.91 $6.91

$5.76 $5.76

19.97%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$4.11 $4.11

-28.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.42 $3.42

-42.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$4.86 $4.86

64.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$6.85 $6.85

17.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 $2.79

White Bread (500g)

$6.52 $6.52

Rice (white) (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

Eggs

$8.87 $8.87

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 $11.17

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.89 $28.89

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$39.88 $39.88

Apples (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

Banana (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

Oranges (1kg)

$12.37 $12.37

Tomato (1kg)

$19.48 $19.48

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

Onion (1kg)

$8.94 $8.94

Lettuce (1 head)

$8.05 $8.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$5.52 $5.52

Wine (Bottle)

$24.91 $24.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 $6.14

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.9 $60.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$19.69 $19.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 $3.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.45 $1.45

6.21%

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

$54.7K $54.7K

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

$47.6K $47.6K

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

$448 $448

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

$101 $101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$150 $150

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$165 $165

Cinema Ticket

$10.02 $10.02

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,521 $1,521

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K $13.3K

$22.1K $22.1K

-40.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 $116

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$149 $149

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$197 $197

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,769 $1,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,251 $3,251

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,183 $4,183

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K $12.9K

$4,841 $4,841

166.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,032 $5,032

$2,818 $2,818

78.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

9.45

-25.40%

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

Last update for St John: September 13, 2026

Last update for St Thomas: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 79% 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 $169 in St Thomas 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 St Thomas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John and St Thomas differ by about 1266% in total monthly costs ($319 vs $4,362 including rent). St John is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 79% 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 $169 in St Thomas. 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 $4,362 in St Thomas – a 1266% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $319 in St John versus $4,362 in St Thomas, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in St Thomas. 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 St Thomas 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 1266% less than in St Thomas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.