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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,331 in St Thomas versus $317 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,282 in St Thomas versus $1,408 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $10.2K in St Thomas versus $2,500 in St John.

Living in St Thomas is roughly 1266% more expensive than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St Thomas is 215% above, St John is 77% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.14 $22.14

$20.02 $20.02

10.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$169 $169

$177 $177

-4.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.32 $13.32

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$7.16 $7.16

-19.55%

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

$4.06 $4.06

$2.95 $2.95

37.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.02 $2.02

68.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$7.82 $7.82

-36.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$7.94 $7.94

-11.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 $2.86

White Bread (500g)

$6.67 $6.67

Rice (white) (1kg)

$19.07 $19.07

Eggs

$9.05 $9.05

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$29.09 $29.09

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.23 $40.23

Apples (1kg)

$12.09 $12.09

Banana (1kg)

$11.14 $11.14

Oranges (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

Tomato (1kg)

$19.90 $19.90

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

Onion (1kg)

$8.92 $8.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$7.94 $7.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$5.41 $5.41

Wine (Bottle)

$25.22 $25.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 $5.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.4 $60.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$19.90 $19.90

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 $3.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.63 $1.63

-12.27%

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

$55.4K $55.4K

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

$49.5K $49.5K

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

$456 $456

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

$98.8 $98.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$150 $150

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$162 $162

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 $9.98

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

$1,529 $1,529

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$13.5K $13.5K

63.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 $115

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$148 $148

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$204 $204

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 $1,818

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,294 $3,294

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,291 $4,291

$989 $989

333.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,868 $4,868

$13.0K $13.0K

-62.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,729 $2,729

$4,027 $4,027

-32.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

7.05

34.04%

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

Last update for St Thomas: August 29, 2026

Last update for St John: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 48% 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: $169 in St Thomas vs $177 in St John 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 Thomas vs St John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St Thomas and St John differ by about 1266% in total monthly costs ($4,331 vs $317 including rent). St John is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 48% lower in St John. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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 $4,331 per month in St Thomas versus $317 in St John – a 1266% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $317 in St John versus $4,331 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 Thomas and St John 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.