Cost of living

I use a stateside insurance(USAA) and Sprint. No need to go local.

Is that your extent of COST OF LIVING? I would be more concerned about food, utility costs, lodging, cable, gas etc. Is that what you are looking for?

Billd

The cost of auto insurance and cell phone service are the only things I could not find on the V.I. website. I just want to know how much for these two services. Example: My 12 year old Jeep is around $900.00 year for full coverage. Cell phone service in New Jersey is approx. $52.00 a month for 450 minutes with caller I.D. call waiting, long distance etc. for Verizon customers.

Cell phones are the same rates/plans (AT&T or Sprint) as stateside. Insurance is a ripoff here, expect to pay about double for similar coverage unless you can get USAA (which has military requirements).

Sean

If I wanted to be around rude sarcastic people I'll stay in New Jersey!!

An option to consider

It seems like you are a little touchy. I don't think Billd was trying to be rude.
If you have read a lot of this board, you will sometimes find some posts where people seem to think that they can go down and live on the beach in a grass hut, and live off the land and sea.
If you had said in your post that you had found most everything else but the computer and cell phone, you would have been perceived a little different. IMHO

To the uninformed it's pronounced: "Joisey, or Joowsey". Born in beautiful downtown Trenton, aka Tre-in... When I left, I took the flag with me...

Your title is Cost of Living! Who is being rude? There is so much more to consider besides cell and ins. costs.

I WAS NOT BEING RUDE!!!!!

I was looking into living in a new area I would first do some homework. Like look in the yellow pages for the things I wanted to know. Too often people come to this board and ask things that they would be better going to the companies them selves. Then ask when you get the information how others see the service.

I always suggest that you GO DIRECTLY to the the source of the issue. If it is WAPA, insurance, cell phone coverage or what ever.

THAT IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. DO IT!!!!

BILLD

Everybody needs to take a deep breath.

O.K. billd I'm Sorry. I took it the wrong way. I thought when someone uses caps it was supposed to mean you are yelling. Let's start over. I just needed to know about car inurance and phones. Even though my jeep is 12 years old it's still in the Kelley Blue book for around $8000.00. I can't afford a new car when I get there so this is my only option. So, is there a website or a number to call for a quote so I don't have a heart attack when I get there. As far as phones go, do you have to buy the phone or is it free with a contract?

cell service, same as stateside
try vi cargo or tropical shipping, go to viphonebook.com ? for the phone numbers. someone will correct me if i am wrong on that.
5 years ago it cost about 2 grand for my 1996 car for shipping and all the other tax stuff

If I wanted to be around rude sarcastic people I'll stay in New Jersey!!

If I'm not mistaken Billd is from NJ and returns yearly for refresher training. So, Highlander32 fear not, come on down you'll feel right at home among friends.

I use Marshall and Sterling for car insurance. For my 7 year old jeep, full coverage is about $600 per year. For my 21 year old ford ranger, limited liability coverage is about $200 per year. I've never had to file a claim for anything, but they always have good customer service when I go in to renew.

I got shipping covered. I need insurance contacts for a quote. Thanks

Marshall Sterling info

Even though my jeep is 12 years old it's still in the Kelley Blue book for around $8000.00. I can't afford a new car when I get there so this is my only option. So, is there a website or a number to call for a quote so I don't have a heart attack when I get there.

Check The Hartford for car and home insurance. It’s a reliable company, good with claims though not really the lowest priced one.

Please note that the insurance company you chose MUST be accepted by the USVI Lt. Governor's office (Banking & Insurance Division) or the vehicle can not be registered here. Most "stateside" companies are not. I have searched high & low for a list of "approved" insurance companies and (it was about 4 years ago) I was told by an employee of Banking & Insurance that they don't keep such a list for people to look at - you must call and ask about each company.

Please note that the insurance company you chose MUST be accepted by the USVI Lt. Governor's office (Banking & Insurance Division) or the vehicle can not be registered here. Most "stateside" companies are not. I have searched high & low for a list of "approved" insurance companies and (it was about 4 years ago) I was told by an employee of Banking & Insurance that they don't keep such a list for people to look at - you must call and ask about each company.

And this is a prime example of what is wrong with the VI government! Unbelievable for a statesider, typical in the VI.

Sean

Most (all?) of the regular companies will only issue lib. coverage on an older vehicle. Don't know the cut off date. USAA will give full coverage for older ones.

State Farm is what I used stateside and I had to get different insurance here. I use guardian and for a 2003 Honda Pilot it's $800 per year for full coverage. A 12 year old car I'm not sure they will do anything but liability for. As mentioned before shipping your car can be quite expensive, and $8K will buy you a nice car (in island terms) here. I'd suggest doing that over shipping your car; after driving it here you won't be shipping it back to the States if/when you go back. This island eats cars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the potholes, salt air, and all the hills.

Cell coverage-ATT and Sprint have the most accessible networks and it is just like being stateside. VI is within the US cell plan for these companies.

As mentioned before, rents, utilities, and everyday living costs are stratospheric compared to the states. I was at Food Center the other day and saw a DiGiorno cheese pizza for $12.95. Milk is $7 per gallon, OJ about the same. A bottle of Listerine is $10. Bought a suitcase at shredded cheddar cheese is $6 for a small packet that would cost $2.50 in the states. Kmart that had a price tag that had $32 on it but was colored over with a black sharpie. It rang up at $53 at the register. Just wanted to give some real-world examples.

Just about the only thing cheap here is Rum 🙂 caveat emptor...I read this board a LOT before deciding to move,m knew what to expect but I'm still shocked at some of the costs involved with living here!

"A bottle of Listerine is $10"

Kmart sells the "equivalent" off-brand stuff for much less.

Thanks for your feedback. Even though the car is worth 8k or more I would need to find someone willing to pay it. Shipping the car from N.J. is around $1800.00. I know the history on my car and I'm not going to find one like it there for that price. Even if I buy a car there, I still have to pay the same road tax, title fees, plates etc. So that car I may find there for around that 8k or less will cost more in the long run. The salt air may be rough on cars but I think winters in the northeast are as bad if not worse. We also have our share of giant potholes too. I got a couple of insurance quotes and they will give me full coverage because it's resale value is high enough.