Schools

Both are excellent private schools.

Thank you. That is the answer I was hoping to hear!!!

My daughter went to Good Hope Country Day School. Just an overall great school. We were very happy with the quality of education taught there. A big family.

Thank you for the feedback. The more research I have been doing the more I am confused. I found information about the average teacher salary in STX then I also found what they claimed to be the average salary at Good Hope Country Day School....they are dramatically different.

I am concerned that coming over as a family of 3 humans + 2 dogs + 2 cats, the one salary won't be enough. My husband will be immigrating so no telling how long it will be for him to land a job.

I am not looking for a job to give me thousands in savings, just one that my son will attend a great school and we can cover our bills with a little left over.

Can anyone guide me to let me know if this will be possible there?

what is your average expense in the states? people say to add 30% to that. food, electricity and gas are more expensive here but other expenses should not be that different .

what is your average expense in the states? people say to add 30% to that. food, electricity and gas are more expensive here but other expenses should not be that different .

The +30% is an overall estimate. To say that "other expenses should not be any different" is false. Toiletries, cleaning materials, clothing - residents who travel to the states don't stock up and bring back a suitcase full of "stuff" just because the selection is greater but because of the price savings.

I don't know. I haven't lived in the states in over 6 years nor with a husband or a kid. :/ so really lost

not really OT because of online shopping those prices are comparable to the states-so not false at all

not really OT because of online shopping those prices are comparable to the states-so not false at all

Disagree. I'm a seasoned online shopper and, prior to my recent trip stateside, I diligently checked online prices for comparison and then found literally dozens of buys in the stores which were not available on the stores' websites. Saved a ton of money on basics. I returned first class so the additional suitcase (purchased at a thrift store stateside for $3) I filled was checked free of charge but even had I paid an additional $25 it would have made hardly a dent in my overall savings.

yep, i am a seasoned online shopper too. and i find the prices comparable.

That's great. Obviously you're way more savvy than I. If you can tell me where online I can purchase the following at (or less than) the prices indicated, I'll be enormously grateful. Just a very random sampling of the scores of purchases I made:

Hawaiian Tropic tanning lotion SPF 4 10.8 fl oz - $4.50
Revlon "Frost&Glow" - 3.75
Aussie "volume" shampoo 13.5 fl oz - 3.50
Cocoa butter skin lotion 20 fl oz - 2/$1.00
Bic disposable razors 12-pack 2/$1

This is rather off topic to the thread (sorry, OP) so feel free to PM me with your findings. Thanks so much!

i am sure if you are as savvy as you say-you can do your own research

i am sure if you are as savvy as you say-you can do your own research

Oh, but as I said earlier, I did my research and also said that you're obviously more savvy than I. I was hoping you would share your knowledge but, if you choose not to do so, then that's that and too bad.

oh well

I found information about the average teacher salary in STX then I also found what they claimed to be the average salary at Good Hope Country Day School....they are dramatically different.

I suspect the difference if between public school salaries and private school salaries.

I gather you are coming to the VI from Egypt? In looking at the cost of living there, I think you might be shocked at prices in the VI.
3 bedroom apartment in the city center there- $678.55. Here $2000+.
Utilities for 900 sq.ft apartment there- electric,heating, water and garbage- $27.81 a month. Here- a lot more than that!
Gallon of gas there-$1.27. Here- hovering around $3.
Loaf of white bread there- 62 cents? Here- $5

Now those are prices from Google, have no idea if they are correct (Yes, I had them changed to US $).

I found information about the average teacher salary in STX then I also found what they claimed to be the average salary at Good Hope Country Day School....they are dramatically different.

I suspect the difference if between public school salaries and private school salaries.

I gather you are coming to the VI from Egypt? In looking at the cost of living there, I think you might be shocked at prices in the VI.
3 bedroom apartment in the city center there- $678.55. Here $2000+.
Utilities for 900 sq.ft apartment there- electric,heating, water and garbage- $27.81 a month. Here- a lot more than that!
Gallon of gas there-$1.27. Here- hovering around $3.
Loaf of white bread there- 62 cents? Here- $5

Now those are prices from Google, have no idea if they are correct (Yes, I had them changed to US $).

Yes the prices are way off... I have a 3 bedroom apartment with a yard and pay $484.00, the bread is a joke... each piece is $0.03 so a loaf would be closer to $1.00 (I guess).... electricity I just had my highest month ever and it was $81, I am told next month it will be double.

My salary in Egypt is really good. ($3000/month) so you can imagine my savings/traveling. I know once I move back then that will disappear due to taxes again and cost of living.

I am just curious, is it worth is? Is it possible? Or, should I consider Puerto Rico since cost of living is lower? I also know finding a rental property to live in will be difficult since we have a HUGE dog, a smaller dog and 2 cats. Therefore I would be looking at buying too. (Obviously not an expensive place maybe mid $200,000... which the realtor told me was going to be extremely difficult)

I am ok with knowing bad news like "you won't be able to afford it don't come" because I would rather know the reality before than after the move is made.

Thank you again for all the help.

I have said before on this board that I think it takes about $75k per year for a family of three to live what would be comparable to a basic middle class lifestyle in the states. Much less than that and the $ will be tight for almost everything. On a single private school teacher's salary you will be living on a shoestring budget. One of my friends in education with a family of three thinks that the number to be comfortable (but not live extravagantly) is closer to $100k per year, and he may be right.

I have had single friends who were teachers here leave island because the $ wasn't enough to get by, and they lived pretty simply to begin with.

Others feel free to chime in. I'm curious to know if anyone has moved here with a family and made it work for very long for less.

I think the biggest hangup for you is going to be affording tuition for private school for your son. If the private school you work for has a break on tuition if you are employed, that would help a lot. I don't think you can afford to take care of three humans, four furries, private school tuition, on a teacher's salary alone. Once your husband has a job, it might be doable.

Wow. Didnt know it was so cheap to live in eqypt

Take a look at rentals on Craig's List to check costs of rentals.
http://virgin.craigslist.org/

You can also look at the Island Trader or the Crucian Trader to check rentals and help wanted ads:

http://virginislandsdailynews.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx?#_selecttitle/waselecttitle/The%20Virgin%20Islands%20Daily%20News

STX rentals tend to be less expensive than those on STT but depending on one's budget, one can always find something in their price range. STT however, may be a better option for finding jobs, sooner than later.

Groceries and electricity will be much more than you're used to paying on either island. Gas runs $2.99 per gallon on STT and $3.09 on STX for regular, right now. I just paid $3.49 for a loaf of bread.

The cost of living in VI is high so you just have to figure out what's doable for your family.

Finding a home in mid $200 range in STT that won't need work will be challenging and limit you to a smaller 2 bed, 1-2 bath home or one that needs massive amount of work. That price range may be more doable in STX but it won't come with all the bells and whistles. If you don't have jobs, financing may be an issue.

PR's economy is in bankruptcy. I know people in PR that can't find jobs. One woman I know has been out of work for 2 years and she's intelligent and talented. You may wish to research PR thoroughly before making a decision about considering a move there.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Don't forget health insurance. If you don't get it through your employer, it's almost impossible to get a good individual policy here. We have no Obamacare here, and the couple of offerings that exist are much more restrictive than the policies you could get under Obamacare.

If your current salary is $3000/month, you will be in trouble here as a teacher. My husband and I are both teachers in the public school system (which generally pays better than private schools). After the mandatory deductions (taxes, GERS, insurance, union dues, etc.), TOGETHER we bring home around $1800 a pay period...and we are not at the bottom of the pay scale rung because we've been teaching quite awhile.

I don't want to deter you from the move, but if finances are a concern, I'm sharing the reality with you.

Good luck!

And gers is in a mess.

To be clear, just about EVERYTHING is more expensive here, excluding rum.

Online shopping isn't a full solution, as stateside stores often have exclusive saving deals that aren't reflected in their online prices (they're determined by algorithms based on present inventory at the store, etc).

The VI isn't really a place that you can "go small" jobs-wise and raise a family. I couldn't imagine having to take care of a family on my (pretty high for the VI) salary.