I have a question

Because it's a vacation resort area.
most locals don't live like people in the states.

How do they live? They don't live in homes?

That's one of the challenges to living here. It's the same on Hawaii (the difference being that they have a universal health insurance system that covers all residents -- a similar plan is under consideration by the USVI Senate). Even more perplexing is that some "professional" jobs will pay less on island than what you could earn in the service industries like waiting tables, working at one of the resorts, etc.

It's not just housing that's expensive. Food costs can be a sticker shocker, too. Fortunately, the stores carry a lot of bulk items that can help you save money (cereal is far cheaper here than in the DC area), which helps make up for the $5 a gallon price of milk.

Insurance is also a big ticket item. Expect to pay $3k-$4k per year for every $100k in value you insure through a homeowners' policy. Our full coverage car insurance costs here for one car are the same as what we paid in DC for two cars, and we have much higher deductibles.

How do folks do it? They downscale and live simply by taking their lunches to work instead of buying lunch, giving up cable tv, and go to free entertainment spots like the beach instead of to dinner or a movie (sounds like you're already skilled at this). Some take more than one job or get a job outside of their field. Others plant gardens and grow their own fruits and vegetables. Everybody's favorite means of making less go further is shopping at our version of Sam's Club/Costco, a store called Cost-U-Less. I personally buy my medicine cabinet type items like tylenol and deodorant from Drugstore.com, which is a lot cheaper than buying the things we use on island.

The tradeoffs can sometimes be hard, but if you love it here, they're well worth the benefits in the long run.

--HC

Most locals don't purchase or rent housing on St. Croix. They build their own house with the assistance of family and friends. Envision an old fashioned pioneer barn raising...

Also locals for the most part are happy to live simply. New arrivals from the mainland most often still expect to have a large, beautiful house similar to what they've had before and want it to be in an upscale/exclusive neighborhood. You pay a high premium for that. If you want to live on waterfront, you will pay what vacationers pay for the priviledge.

There are some less expensive options, but most new arrivals are not yet comfortable with moving into the neighborhoods where cheaper housing is found.

The reason that some new arrivals aren't comfortable with moving into more affordable neighborhoods is that there are realtors who do everything possible to steer them to more upscale neighborhoods (read: mostly white continentals).

I can't say it's surprising for realtors to push the higher end neighbrhoods as that's where they will earn a higher commission. Urging a client to buy the cheapest house in a more expensive area is not a bad thing -- unless it ignores the realities of the client's financial status or plays on stereotypes and unfounded fears that living in any "local" neighborhood means that crime, drugs, and other ravages associated with poverty will part of your daily life. Some of the "advice" we've heard from so-called professionals in real estate, mortgage lenders, and such was clearly based on racist attitudes.

I'm not saying that any of this applies to Alexandra -- folks who have been her clients have clearly spoken highly of the services she provides. I just felt it important that people who are considering the move not buy into the fallacy that the only safe place to be, or that the only homes that will appreciate in value, are found east of C'sted or behind gates and walls.

--HC

Hello KathyC !!

You asked "why is it that Apartment and house rentals are so expensive and incomes are so small on St. Croix?"

Good question!! I will try to answer it from my perspective.

The largest employer on St. Croix is the VI Government. Many of the government workers have been working for their respective agencies for decades, and have built homes during that time.

The largest private employer is the huge Hovensa oil refinery (used to be HESS Oil, a subsidiary of Amerada Hess corporation.)
It is the second largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere. The people who work at HOVENSA enjoy great salaries and benefits, and over the years many of them built large homes in various neighborhoods all over St. Croix.

The people who list apartments and houses for rent are, in my humble opinion, not really marketing those units with the local demographic in mind...they are expecting to rent to people who are coming here to work on a project at the huge refinery. Those temporary workers will earn huge salaries and HOVENSA will pay them enough per diem to cover their rent. I recall one HOVENSA guy who lived in a house in my neighborhood for a year, and HOVENSA paid his $3500.00 per month rent!! That is what is driving the rental market at the moment. I have a condo that I rent occasionally, and it was gone the same day it was made available...to a HOVENSA subcontractor.

Your income will be small if you come here and work in some unskilled capacity. You should aim to make no less than $40,000 per year. Remember, you'll only need one wardrobe, and you will have no heating bill for "winter", whatever that is. Sure, you may pay a bit more for the stuff that has to be shipped in, but overall you will see the 40K go much further than it would in the States...no State tax, no taxes on your purchases, no heating bill, no cooling bill because the tradewinds cool us off, shorter commutes, and less overall aggravation, which you cannot put a price tag on.

So what sort of person would earn 40K or better on St. Croix? Well, again, IMHO, skilled people who cater to an obvious need. Take auto mechanics, for example. Anyone who you talk to on St. Croix will decry the lack of decent automotive service. This place is crying for a Jiffy-Lube!! Someone could make a lot of money by starting a prescription-delivery service for senior citizens...my mother is always calling me away from work to go stand in line at K-Mart for hers. How about solar energy? Many homeowners are now looking at solar retrofits due to rising energy costs and our abundant supply of free sunshine. How about home delivery of groceries for senior citizens or the disabled...just a few I can think of off-hand.

You'll do just fine, but maybe think about being an entrepreneur and don't depend so much on someone paying you a salary. There is a need for a plethora of services here, and the astute person will see them once he/she gets used to the place.

Native Son...

Pardon me for picking out one piece and asking your advice, since your whole post is wonderful.

Most of you know my husband is a pharmacist for Kmart...I have considered the delivery service, but since I barely find my way home now that may not be a good option for me 🙂 The lack of addresses or inconsistency of street addresses is also confusing to many of us.

Be that as it may, stateside rules prohibit that type of enterprise by the larger chains because of HIPAA, and also because the delivery people would have to be bonded to the gills. If your delivery person makes off with your controlled narcotic, then there's a tremendous liability for the corporation. Also, many scheduled narcotics have to be signed for by the patient or their representative. I tried to discuss this with the major grocery chain my husband worked for in Arkansas and got the door firmly closed in my face. So my question would be - does anyone know of a local law that would prohibit such an enterprise? I don't suppose anything can supercede the federal law of a signature, which could be obtained at the time of delivery (I am guessing here, but I believe husband told me it doesn't leave the pharmacy without a signature), meaning either the pharmacy or the delivery person will have to have an impressive bond and probably be signed as an agent for the patient. Many people, unfortunately, will say they were shorted on their prescription - no one ever got too much! That opens up a whole new can of worms.

Maybe there's an attorney on the board who could help with this, as it's something I've wondered about but never really pursued. I probably wouldn't be a great choice anyway - I am directionally challenged, and also the pharmacist's wife..conflict, maybe? But I do know someone who is interested in this as well as the home grocery delivery angle, so any input is appreciated.

Native Son, you were in my head. Just before I looked at your post, I was trying to think of some type of job I could create for myself. Great minds think alike.

BeckyR,

You made an excellent point about the legal ramifications. I have a few friends who are attorneys, and I will ask them about this.

Thanks!

Thanks KathyC !

If I think of any more I'll be sure to share. I have a friend who came here years ago with nothing but a degree in landscaping and the clothes on her back. She now owns one of the premier businesses of that type on the island...perseverance and hard work 🙂