Real cost of living

How much you need to bring with you depends on your particular lifestyle, how quickly you find employment and how much your job pays. By the way, $20,000 for 3 months may sound like a lot but $20,000 for 6 months is far different. Your fiance is probably thinking the money has to last 6 months and you are thinking 3 months.

Keep in mind the percentage comparisons between what you now pay vs. what you might pay in the USVI's are only averages and sometimes are often a bit dated. Also, if a person currently lives in a rural area they'll experience a bigger increase than someone who lives in a large city like New York. What you can expect is that in general, your living expenses will be higher and your wages will be lower than what you pay/earn where you now live. My advice is to bring as much money as you can, there's no rule saying you have to spend it all - save what you don't need.

I think you may be right but as is our cost of living for 6 months where we are at it only about 10,000 we rent a small 2 bedroom that allows cats and have a moderate lifestyle. We don't eat out that often or buy expensive things.... having a monthly expense of over 3000 seems higher than I was thinking. Is there any place on the boards or online that offers a break down comparison of mainland compared to USVI. I just think it would be interesting to see what everyone spends now compared to when they lived on the mainland. I have read the list on the web site of cost of living ect but there are somethings that are left out...
Thanks for your advice
Angel M

Angel M,

Perhaps your finace is considering the extra expenses of getting established someplace new: rent (1st month, last month, security deposit), a car, car insurance pre-paid for a year, WAPA deposit, etc.

Angel, where do you live? Maybe there are readers from that general vicinity who could give you some info that will be closer to home.

For example, I live in Boston and am planning to move to St. Thomas. I don't think that there is going to be much of a difference in my cost of living. Rent is going to be similar; I'm keeping my cell phone plan, etc. The things that I can see adding up are little things at the grocery store and items that we don't normally think of in cost of living comparisons. For example, groceries are pretty pricey in St. Thomas. But, in other areas, you can save money. I'm probably not going to get cable. So, it's all about the tradeoffs.

A good website to compare cost of living is: http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html
They don't have the Virgin Islands, but it still has some good/interesting information.

I live in a suburb of pittsburgh pennsylvania. We are about 20 minutes away from the city and it is not rock bottom cheap to live here, but we do alright with a moderate income. Moving to St T has been a dream of ours since we met Although the dream is starting to get a few bumps... We too will keep our cell phone plan. We have lived for 5 years with no cable so that will not be factored in right away. We are not even planning on bringing a car at first. We will find one on island if things work for us. We have cut as much out as we can think of. One thing I can't skimp on if groceries. He has to maintain a balanced diet due to health issues. But other than that we are flexible.

Thanks for the web site I will look at it tonight.

Angel M

I think your bofriend is wise to be conservative on the money to bring. As pointed out, start-up costs will be high for several things, and things are VERY expensive here. Irene and I are both big milk drinkers, and to pay $5.39 a gallon (unless we get it at KMart for 4.35) 2-3 times a week is painful, and typical of prices.

Max

Angel

On St Thomas you can expect to pay about $1200 per month for a basic 1 or 2 bdrm condo.(you can pay much more..or a bit less ..depending) You will need another $300 or so for power, water ,phone etc.

If you pay cash for a car it will only be another $200 or so a month for insurance gas and upkeep.

If you have medical insurance it will be around $250 each a month.

Food can be 25% more than in the states.

You know your other expenses....do the math.

Angel,

I see you said you're thinking of moving to the USVI? You didn't specified on which island. Although I'm a native of St. Croix that is living in Jacksonville, FL., I will be returning to St. Croix in May 2006.

In my 20 yrs of living in the mainland and visiting occationally all 3 USVI, one important thing everyone has not mentioned is which island. You will notice that the cost of living will vary greatly among all 3 of them. St. Thomas, being the Capital and very high into tourism will tend to be very expensive around the towns and highly populated areas. St. John, although mainly national park, very beautiful if I may add, follows St. Thomas very closely.

St. Croix, larger with more space and widely spread, is highly expensive the closer you are to the two towns they have. Although St. Croix is high on tourism, its mass employment comes from the oil refinary there.

Now the secret that no Islander likes to share: If you are honestly willing to make a living and survive in the islands, "Stay away from the tourism traps". Mingle with the locals. Socialize. Once you are accepted, you will learn why they still live in an island that is so expensive to live in and still make minimum wage.

And that is why I'm not too concern in turning down a $65,000 dollar job here to go back to my home to earn perhaps minimum wage, lol. One final word: "NETWORKING" that why I'm not going to pay more the $3.50 for a gallon of milk. Living in the islands is never "what you know", but, "who you know".

Okay, I'll get off my soap box, lol.

One last thing, the more cash you have at your disposal, the better. It is never easy to relocate. Expecially to the USVI. I know, I'm experiencing it now as I prep to move.

Thank you all for your advice. You have given us something to think about. I am beginning to see why everyone up here is telling us to save for at least a year and then if we still want to, go ahead and make the move. We can figure on doubling our monthly expenses and his figuring at this point doesn't seem that much over the top.

I have another quick question for everyone. How hard is it really to find a place that will allow cats? Or is it one of the things you have to be down there to find.

I have been told time and time again that once we are down there we will be able to find the deals the locals look for , but in this next bit while we are getting ready for the move, the most we will get is polite silence on housing deals and jobs. Which to be honest I understand completely.

Are there any things like bath shops on the Island of St Thomas or St Croix? Places that deal in specialty soaps and shampoos? That is my specialty where we are at. It would be nice to stay in the business down there and put a little different spin on it, but it isn't all that necessary. I can do almost anything.

Thanks for reading this long reply ,
Angel M

I can't really think of anyone who would rent to you without first meeting you in person. There are plenty of people here already who have first/last and security in hand and are able to move in "today". There should be plenty of places available to you even with a cat. Also, (a question I often ask) why would you want to rent an apartment you haven't physically visited?

That is a very good question. I wouldn't realy, I would at least make a trip to look it over and sign on the dotted line before hauling my stuff, his stuff, and our baby down there. By baby I mean Isianax our cat ( don't ask about the name!) My question was accualy how hard is it to find a spot that allows cats in general. I know a lot of people have issues with dog because of insurance but I wasn't sure about cats. I read in one of the other posts something along the line of

" Pack what you think you need for the trip then take half of it out"? Is it realy like that down there?

Beg to differ, Kat - I called a real estate agent from stateside who wasn't interested in me OR my 5 Rottweilers...but his secretary had an apartment...and the rest is history - she is with one of the huge RE companies here, her husband works for customs. An incredibly nice couple who went out of their way to accept boxes for us prior to our move, bought the basics so we wouldn't be coming in without them, and basically took care of my husband for the month he was down here before I arrived and the dogs started coming in two by two.

Call me naive or what you will - but this was a nice young couple who provided us with pictures of the place we rented sight unseen and answered every question we could possibly have had and were eternally patient with us. Would I recommend it? Well....I think we were super lucky and fate had a hand!

Attitude - it goes a long way - but be open and friendly and honest with everyone you talk to. Maybe that person doesn't have anything for you, but their cousin, secretary, etc. just may have exactly what you are looking for.

Angel, best of luck to you. And yes, there is a wonderful soap and scents shop downtown - the ladies there are excellent to deal with!

P.S. I should have added - we are on STX.

I think Becky said it best:

Attitude - it goes a long way - but be open and friendly and honest with everyone you talk to. Maybe that person doesn't have anything for you, but their cousin, secretary, etc. just may have exactly what you are looking for.

Thats "NETWORKING" at its finest. Good luck. Since you still have some time before your move, 'll try to fill you in on how ours goes in May. For now, good luck.

Hi,
it sounds like you had a great experience relocating. I am going to be relocating in september and really am trying to find out everything I can about the process/ Where did you find a realtor and where do you live? Do they have other properties? How is rent where you are living. If you don't mind giving me some details I would be froever grateful!! Thanks so much!

I will be moving with two cats and am hoping that doesn't hinder my chances in finding a great place

Interested -- which island are you moving to?

Hi, Tony I am currently living in Jacksonville,fl myself and looking to relocate to St. Croix in April with my fiance, and i would really like to get more info. from you since were in the same city, I think you could be very helpful to us and we would appreciate any info that you could provide for us. Look foward to hearing from you