How much does living in St Kitts and Nevis cost as a retiree? Is local produce cheap? How expensive is St Kitts and Nevis for a family of four? Expats moving to the Caribbean often ask these questions. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of living in St Kitts and Nevis, including details on daily expenses, rent, and healthcare.
An Overview of the St Kitts and Nevis Cost of Living
St Kitts and Nevis’ beautiful beaches, political stability, and laidback island life attract expats worldwide. An added benefit is the opportunity to lower living expenses when moving from countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The average utilities, rent, and grocery prices make the Caribbean island an appealing option for foreign nationals. A single person can live comfortably in St Kitts and Nevis with a monthly budget of between $1,500 to $2,000. A family of four’s monthly expenses range between $2,800 and $4,000; however, monthly costs will vary significantly depending on factors such as owning a vehicle, using public transportation, paying for private schooling, or higher education.
A single person or family of four estimated monthly costs can be reduced by buying local produce, but like many Caribbean countries, imported goods are more expensive than those from the US and European countries.
Grocery prices in St Kitts and Nevis
Due to the high volume of imported food products in St. Kitts and Nevis, grocery costs can range from moderate to expensive; however, retirees in St Kitts and Nevis who buy local products at markets significantly reduce these expenses.
Locally produced products include onions, oranges, peanuts, sugarcane, coconuts, soursop, and breadfruit. Like in other Caribbean islands, imported food such as milk, eggs, fresh white bread, and imported wine is more expensive than average.
Here are the average prices for some everyday groceries in Saint Kitts and Nevis vs the USA:
Item | St Kitts and Nevis | United States |
Milk (1 liter) | $3.32 | $1.05 |
Eggs (12 regular) | $5.77 | $3.66 |
White rice (1kg) | $2.96 | $4.55 |
Fresh white bread (500g) | $4.07 | $3.58 |
Onion (1kg) | $1.57 | $3.0 |
Oranges (1kg) | $1.85 | $4.49 |
Potatoes (1kg) | $1.11 | $3.02 |
Beef (1kg) | $4.81 | $16.02 |
Cheese (1kg) | $11.01 | $12.87 |
Chicken (1kg) | $10.36 | $12.04 |
Dining out in St Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis has built an excellent reputation for its rich cuisine. There are various restaurant options, but prices are higher than average. Typically, a meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs $22 compared to $20 in the United States. A three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant costs $92. The cost of a fast-food meal is also relatively high at $14 on average.
While the average restaurant prices may be expensive, beverages are relatively affordable, with a domestic beer typically costing just $2.22.
Cost of Utilities in St Kitts and Nevis
Essential utilities in St Kitts and Nevis include electricity, water, and garbage collection. With power primarily generated from fossil fuels, utility and petrol prices can vary based on the cost of fuel imports and fluctuating oil prices.
Nevertheless, an 85-square-meter apartment in St Kitts and Nevis costs about $95 monthly for basic utilities, much cheaper than the average cost of $205 in the United States.
Take a look at our St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Ultimate Guide
St Kitts and Nevis Real Estate Costs
Renting in St Kitts and Nevis
With average rent prices being inexpensive in St Kitts and Nevis, a single person can easily manage a reasonable monthly budget while living in a one-bedroom apartment. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $850 in the city center of cities like Frigate Bay and Basseterre and $600 outside the city center. In contrast, in the USA, the cost is $1,760 in the center and $1,445 outside the center.
St Kitts and Nevis real estate prices
Retirees and digital nomads considering moving to the Caribbean can purchase real estate shares for as little as $325,000 to qualify for the country’s citizenship by investment program. St Kitts and Nevis is a popular retirement destination among Americans; however, the average price of St Kitts and Nevis real estate tends to be higher than many other Caribbean countries.
Real estate firms operating in St Kitts and Nevis, such as St Kitts Nevis Realty and Remax St. Kitts, offer two-bedroom family villas in Christophe Harbour, St Kitts for $600,000 and multi-unit apartment buildings in New Castle, Nevis for $800,000.
Transportation Costs in St Kitts and Nevis
A practical benefit of St Kitts and Nevis is its efficient bus network, which offers access to most areas of the country. However, transportation is more readily available on St Kitts due to its higher level of development. A local bus ticket on public transport costs $2.22 on average, compared to $2.50 in the USA. However, the monthly pass option for public transportation.
Taxi prices are generally negotiable and in line with the average costs in the United States. Ferry services run by Mark Twain, MC Patience, MV Hustler, and Sea Bridge run daily from Saint Kitts and Nevis, costing $11 to $15 each way.
Like other Caribbean destinations, buying cars in Saint Kitts and Nevis is significantly more expensive than in the United States due to import charges of St Kitts and Nevis taxes. Import charges include:
- A customs service charge of 12 percent.
- An environmental levy of EC$1,000 TO EC$5,000, depending on the vehicle’s age
- Import duty of 45 percent
The current gas/petrol cost in St Kitts and Nevis is $1.15 per liter.
St Kitts and Nevis Healthcare Costs
The primary medical facilities in St Kitts and Nevis are the Joseph N France General Hospital in St Kitts and the Alexandra Hospital in Nevis. Free basic St Kitts and Nevis healthcare is available to all legal residents.
Each hospital is equipped for various types of treatment, but residents may need to seek treatment abroad for specific cases. Allianz, Bupa, and Pacific Prime are some of the most renowned private health insurance providers, with comprehensive monthly policies ranging from $200 to $400.
Study Costs in St Kitts and Nevis
Education is mandatory and provided free of charge for children aged 5 to 16 in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Private and international schools that follow US and British curricula are also available. School fees for the St Kitts International Academy range from EC$12,885 to EC$16,310 per school year for St Kitts and Nevis passport holders and EC$15,120 to EC$20,690 per school year for expat children.
Saint Kitts is home to several universities, a few of them being private medical schools. University tuition varies according to each university and degree, and some universities are free for Saint Kitts and Nevis and CARICOM nationals.
The International University of Health Sciences, one of the island’s most prestigious universities, charges $17,425 annually for pre-clinical sciences and $10,200 annually for clinical medicine.
St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Cost
St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment program allows foreign investors to obtain a Caribbean passport by contributing $20,000 to one of the country’s two government funds: The Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) or Public Benefit Option (PBO) or buying property shares worth at least $325,000. Obtaining citizenship takes four to six months.
Saint Kitts and Nevis offers a family-friendly citizenship program, allowing up to four family members to obtain citizenship with a single contribution of $250,000 to the SISC.
Compare St Kitts and Nevis vs St Lucia vs Citizenship in our detailed comparison Guide
Frequently Asked Questions about Living Costs in St Kitts and Nevis
The cost of living in Saint Kitts and Nevis is moderate compared to other Caribbean islands but cheaper than the United States. Locally produced food items, including vegetables and domestic beers, are generally low-cost. Imported items like cars and electronics tend to be expensive due to high import charges, as well as eat at an inexpensive or mid-range restaurant.
Saint Kitts and Nevis’s official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC or XCD). Companies and banks in St Kitts and Nevis trade with the EC.
Saint Kitts and Nevis’ cost of living is moderate, as many products must be imported into the island. However, expenses such as basic utilities and unlimited data are relatively cheap and the country imposes low Caribbean taxes.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is considered an upper-middle-income country. Its average income is higher than that of many Caribbean countries but lower than that of developed nations like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
With a popular cell phone service provider like Digicel, you can purchase a 30-day prepaid plan with 10GB of data for $35. A TV and high-speed internet bundle with unlimited data costs around $80 per month.
Living in Saint Kitts and Nevis on an average retirement pension can be quite affordable compared to the average estimated monthly costs of living in many Western countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK.
The cost of living, including rent, basic utilities, and daily expenses, is generally lower. For example, renting a one-bedroom property in the city center of popular towns like Frigate Bay and Basseterre averages around $850 per month compared to $1,760 in the USA and $1,370 in the UK.
Utilities are also less expensive, and local markets offer affordable produce, significantly reducing grocery expenses. Additionally, the country has a favorable tax framework, imposing no personal income tax, capital gains, wealth, or inheritance taxes. However, retirees should consider private healthcare costs, transportation, and the cost of imported goods, which significantly increase monthly budgets.
