Before Moving...

Expect to spend $1000 a month for a nice 2 bedroom on the Northside, they can be hard to find but if you look you will find them.

Saphire has studios as well as 1 bedrooms. They usually have one available but they fill up fast this time of year. Right now is when all of the transients come into town because it is the beginning of high season so everything gets gobbled up.

Good luck.

Yes, this time of year it's starting to be difficult to find a place due to the transients already scooping them up.

"How much should one plan on saving up before their move down to the islands?"
I'd say at least $5,000. I know that it sounds kind of high, but you must realize that in order to rent an apartment, most charge first, last and security. If your rent is $1,000, you'll blow three grand right off the bat, leaving you with only 2 left. Two thousand sounds like a pretty good cushion...and in the States it is. But not here. Remember, everything is a little more expensive here (except for cigarettes, liquor and jewelry! Haha!), so money doesn't last as long. Plus, you'll want transportation, and that can be a little daunting for people used to Stateside prices. As an example, when I got here I figured I'd just buy a "beater" (Michigan term for a junker that still gets you around) for $100. They don't exist here. Oh, there are lots of "beaters", but they are pricey!! My first car here was a 1987 Plymouth Reliant "K car. After looking at it, I figured, "Yep, a hundred dollar beater", which in Mich. it would be. They wanted $1,600 and I talked them down to $1,200...and this was in Jan. of '98! 12 years old, one headlight, no radio, no windshield wipers, no window in the passenger door, no horn (GOTTA have that here!!), and so much play in the steerring wheel that I could almost turn it a full turn before the wheels moved! Haha! So, you'll definitley want to plan for transportation, as just taking a taxi around trying to find a place will eat up $$ quickly. And even if you get lucky and land a job your fist day on island, it'll still be a while before you get your first check and you'll still need money to eat and drink!

"On the Northside of St.Thomas, what is the average rent for a furnished studio apartment and are they fairly nice?"
Like anywhere, some are nice and some are not, but you can usually tell by the price. If it's got a $500/mo price, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to live there. Not 100% of the time, but in most instances. A furnished studio on the Northside...I'd figure about $7-800. Pick up an Island Trader as soon as you get hereto find an apartment and a car.

"Also, is "Sapphire Beach" expensive or reasonable for a bartender and are there a lot of places to rent there?"
The one and two bedroom units right on the beach are a little expensive (nice, though), but the studios above the beach are relatively cheap. My landlord has a studio that she rents out there (furnished) and it's only $800/mo. There are a lot of units there, but there isn't a lot of availability right now, as they are filling up fast.

Hope this helps! 🙂