Living Expenses on St. Croix

So many threads on this, do a search or better yet starting reading back through all the threads. Also up top on this page you have tabs like Pre Move, What to Expect, etc and will give you an idea of the costs of many things. Good Luck! 🙂

Hiya! thanks for recomending the tabs the're helpful..... but if anyone could share their actual monthly living expenses it would a great help. I'm trying to compare the monthly costs in the VI to the $4500.00 a month (including a mortage) I now pay to on the mainland. Thanks Again

I would be intersted in this too, as I'm doing a similar analysis.

1 bd rm 2 people

rent $1000
electric (no AC) $100
water @ $.02 per gallon
condo fees differ at every property, some of the Realtor sites have comparison charts
internet $49.95
car insurance for a ratta $400
groceries are between 20 and 50% higher than the states
gas is @ $2.80
cell phone $40
land line $35
basic cable $14

2 bdrm house, gated community

rent $1800
electric $160-200(some AC)
water $0
internet & phone unlimited $150
car insurance(no collision) $300/year
cable-free
garbage pick up-free

Rent.>>>..Well that depends on the size place you want. So let us know. If you are going to buy know that hurricane insurance is AT LEAST 3% of your home price. To buy in most cases here you must be able to put down 10 to 20% to secure a mortgage as well.

Electric....varies wildly. One of the biggest factors is if you use AC and if you have a lot of electric toys or have a dryer or old water heater. Price per Kilowatts range from about .32 cents to .50 when it gets really high

Water..... is usually cheaper about .03 cent per (not sure what the unit is now) and you will only pay for city water if you live directly in town or close to town. Otherwise you have a cistern, which is free but generally undrinkable. If your cistern runs dry its about 250 to 350 for 5000 gallons. Buying gallon sized drinking water ranges from $1.10 to 1.50, unless of coarse you refill it yourself at the refill stations at the grocery stores and then I forget how much it is but more like .25 to .50 a gallon.

Car insurance was high to me and we've lived all over. For an older island car you will most likely only be able to get general liability and that is around $300 to $400, depending on make, model, etc. I bought a new car 2 years ago and I have to care full coverage and it hurts badly paying that every year.

Gas for home is around $68 to $75 a tank. Most places have gas stoves. Very practical for hurricanes.

Groceries are high. I would double you current bill to be on the safe side for a buget. I know I never spent over $110 a week before coming here and I would easily say that has doubled if not more. But we do not eat out much. The good restaurants are exp and the average ones I think I can do a much better job at.

Cell phone, we have sprint and ATT and Centennial I believe is the local company? So plans with those will carry over here. You just have to decide if you want a stateside number so your friends and family can call you cheaply. Or if you want a local number for job interviews and new friend here.

Cable.....shocked at the $14 price someone quoted. But I'm an addict. I believe extended basic is around $40, I have everything innovative has to offer and it's about $110 a month. There's lots to do during the day here but at night it's go out to eat or drink.

Land line is about $35

Garbage pick up is not free unless you are lucky enough to get it included in your rent. I was shocked when we first bought our house at what it cost. You can take it to the dump your self or pay about $65 for twice weekly pick up or its a little lower for once a week. If anyone's pay cheaper please let me know, I've called around to everyone in the phone book.

Hiya...I have once a week garbage pick up w/VI Regulated Waste and it's $18.75 a month. Twice weekly would be $35.00 a month. I don't need it picked up twice a week, so once a week works for the 2 of us. Sure beats having to go to the dumpsters. They provide the large can that has wheels on it.

Thanks luckygirl, I know I called them, maybe its the area I live in....but it never hurts to try again! 🙂

Great info ! thanks so much Hiya! , Bombi & Cory... now I can crunch numbers and fire out some more questions to you guys.

Hiya's post reminded me...the best thing, money saving and eco-friendly, that we have done is to buy a water cooler that holds the 5 gallon jugs. Water is .59 per gallon at Cost-U-Less. And the added bonus...everytime we walk past, we grab a glass of water. We're both drinking so much more water than before, and that's good!

Hi I am new in this web site , and I was reading about your information and It was very good thank you .. How long are you living in st croix? we are planning to move in the near future so we are looking all king of information

im trying to find health insurance for my son and i while living on st john. this is the only info i can not find online. i plan on moving bye the end on this year and health insurance is a must have for us, i need to know what im looking at cost wise so i can know what i need to save.

This probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but this link will tell you waht you need to know: (NO) insurance in the VI

It's true. If health insurance is a "must have" for you, you'll need to get it from an employer or through Medicare/Medicaid if you qualify. Otherwise, there is no legitimate way for an island resident to acquire health insurance at this time.