The smallest Caribbean country: how much does it cost to live in a cozy tropical paradise?

There is an opinion that the Caribbean is a place purely for luxury travelers. In fact, the Caribbean region includes 30 countries: some of them are on the verge of survival, others have a very high standard of living. In general, local prices cannot be called low. But, for example, a trip to the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic will cost more than to Jamaica, Cuba or Haiti.

Let's look at the cost of living in the Caribbean on the example of one of the most developed countries in the region — Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is one of the 13 independent States of the Caribbean region, which is located on two islands of the same name. In total, there are 29 countries in the Caribbean, among which there are possessions of the USA, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands. The minimum wage in Saint Kitts and Nevis is high relative to other points of the archipelago - almost $ 3 per hour, and the average salary is about $ 1,200 per month. Therefore, prices are higher than, for example, in Cuba or the Dominican Republic.It has its own currency: the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), but you can also pay with more familiar US dollars. And the main language is English, so there will be no problems with communicating with local residents.

Living expenses

Buying a home. The cost of one-room apartments on the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis starts from 120 thousand dollars, and a small house will cost about 230-250 thousand.

For 350 thousand dollars, it is quite possible to buy an old villa with a plantation. And although for such money her condition will not be the best, but at your disposal is a large plot where you can organize your household.

The advantage of buying a home on these islands is the opportunity to obtain a second citizenship within four months after the conclusion of the transaction. Moreover, all family members and relatives also receive citizenship together with the owner of the property.

Over the past 10 years, more than 10 thousand passports of Saint Kitts and Nevis have been issued. Citizens of 127 countries participated in the program, but the most active investors were from Europe and Asia. And in 2014, Pavel Durov received citizenship of this small Caribbean country.

Rental housing. To rent a one—room apartment in Basseterre - the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis — will cost 600-800 dollars, depending on the area of the city. Three—room apartment - in 1200-2000. Approximately the same prices in Antigua and Barbuda — literally 100-200 dollars cheaper.

Utility bills. For a spacious apartment (heating, electricity, water, garbage collection), get ready to give monthly in the range of 160-190 dollars. Home unlimited Internet will cost an average of $ 60-80.

Transport and communications

Public transport. Saint Kitts and Nevis has a developed network of buses and minibuses. One trip will cost 0.5−2.5 dollars, depending on the type of vehicle and the distance of the route.

There is a railway along the coast, in every city there are ports, the largest of which are in Basseterre on St. Kitts and Charlestown on Nevis. You can easily travel between the islands of the state by ferry.

Auto. It costs at least $ 30 per day to rent a car, depending on the brand and condition of the car. The basic cost of buying a Volkswagen Golf type car (engine — 1.4 liters) is 30 thousand dollars. A liter of gasoline costs $ 4.

Taxis on the islands are also expensive — only for boarding you will be charged an average of $ 12.

Connection. There are three mobile communication standards in Saint Kitts and Nevis: GSM 850, GSM 900/1900 and TDMA, presented by four local operators. Payphones are installed everywhere, from which you can call abroad. Payment cards can be purchased in almost any stores and pharmacies.A minute of talking on a mobile phone costs about $ 0.3, and unlimited mobile Internet costs $ 40. The country also has a well-developed Internet cafe network.

Food and clothing

Supermarkets. Food prices are far from the lowest, so the big question is which is more profitable: to cook on your own or still visit local cafes.

The average cost of products in Buster's stores:

Milk (1 liter) — 3.5−4 dollars. Local cheese (1 kg) — 6-12 dollars. Fresh bread (500 grams) — 3-3.5 dollars. Eggs (12 pieces) — 3-3.3 dollars. Chicken breast (1 kg) — $8. Water (1.5 liters) — 2.5 dollars. Wine (bottle) — 15-20 dollars. Beer — 2-4 dollars. White rice (1 kg) — $3. Tomatoes (1 kg) — 3.5−4 dollars. Potatoes (1 kg) — $2. Apples (1 kg) — 7-8 dollars. Oranges (1 kg) — $4. Salad (1 head) — $ 2.

Restaurants and cafes. Lunch at an inexpensive cafe is about $ 10 per person. Moreover, by looking into a fast food restaurant like McDonalds, you will save a little: a complex like McMeal will cost $ 9-12 here. To drink a cappuccino, prepare another $ 4, and a bottle of Pepsi — $ 2. A three-course dinner at a more expensive restaurant for two will cost about $65-70 (excluding drinks).Traditional dishes on the Caribbean Islands are seafood in various variations accompanied by vegetables and rice. But also the locals are willing to cook poultry, pork, lamb, peas and potatoes. Desserts are mostly fruit.

Clothes. When going to the Caribbean, remember that many countries here belong to the duty-free zone. The best islands for shopping are Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua, Aruba, Martinique, Grand Cayman.

As for Saint Kitts and Nevis, the cost of clothing here is not much different from European prices. For example, Levice jeans will cost 50-70 dollars, shoes (branded sneakers, leather shoes) — in 70-80 dollars, summer dress — in 30-35.

Other expenses

If, in addition to working days, you have time for yourself, you can go to the cinema for $ 5.5−$ 7 and purchase a monthly subscription to a fitness club for $ 60-80 per month. Most of the attractions here are natural, so visiting them will not require special expenses except for transport.

For one visit to the doctor, if you do not have insurance, you will have to pay 85-90 dollars.If you want to travel a little, having visited different islands of the Caribbean region, the best way is to fly. There are a lot of daily flights, although their prices are not the lowest. For example, for each flight between the Lesser Antilles, you will have to pay around $ 100. A ticket from Saint Kitts to Antigua costs about 120-140 dollars, and in Nevis — 80-90, although the road will take 30 minutes in the first case, and only 15 in the second.

So, if you decide to live in the Caribbean for a while — for example, in Saint Kitts and Nevis, keep in mind that you will have to pay a lot for the gorgeous natural landscapes and relative privacy due to the low population density. Provided that you rent a studio apartment, eat alternately in inexpensive cafes, then at home, use public transport and do not forget about entertainment — you will need about 1200-1400 dollars a month.