Cost Of Living For a Student in Saint Lucia 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: XCD
Average monthly spending for students in Saint Lucia
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Saint Lucia?
Students in Saint Lucia spend around 1,400 XCD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 210 XCD or as high as 9,300 XCD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Saint Lucia
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
| 0.57 XCD | 0.76 XCD | 1.4 XCD |
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 7,100 XCD | 14,000 XCD | 19,000 XCD |
Bus ticket one way
| 0.47 XCD | 0.71 XCD | 1.4 XCD |
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
1-bedroom apartment
| 350 XCD | 570 XCD | 1,400 XCD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 470 XCD | 710 XCD | 1,900 XCD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 47,000 XCD | 71,000 XCD | 140,000 XCD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 57,000 XCD | 94,000 XCD | 350,000 XCD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 94,000 XCD | 280,000 XCD | 570,000 XCD |
| $35,000 | $100,000 | $210,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
Double Bed
Single Bed
Living Room
| 310 XCD | 400 XCD | 1,400 XCD |
Dining Table
Sofa or Couch
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
Fridge or Freezer
Washing Machine
Stove or Cooker
Mobile Phone
Laptop or Computer
How do students spend their money in Saint Lucia?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $19 51 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $120 330 XCD |
| HIGH | $830 2,200 XCD |
| Per Month |
Students in Saint Lucia typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 330 XCD with expenditure ranging from 51 XCD to 2,200 XCD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3.1 8.5 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $21 56 XCD |
| HIGH | $140 370 XCD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Saint Lucia ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 56 XCD with 8.5 XCD and 370 XCD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $5.5 15 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $36 98 XCD |
| HIGH | $240 650 XCD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 15 XCD to 650 XCD in a month on commuting with 98 XCD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $16 42 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $100 280 XCD |
| HIGH | $690 1,900 XCD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Saint Lucia is 280 XCD. The cost of groceries can range between 42 XCD to 1,900 XCD. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $4.7 13 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $31 84 XCD |
| HIGH | $210 560 XCD |
| Per Month |
Students in Saint Lucia allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 13 XCD to 560 XCD with 84 XCD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $3.9 11 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $26 70 XCD |
| HIGH | $170 460 XCD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 11 XCD to 460 XCD with 70 XCD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $15 40 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $98 260 XCD |
| HIGH | $650 1,800 XCD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 260 XCD per month with 40 XCD being the minimum spent amount and 1,800 XCD being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $12 32 XCD |
| AVERAGE | $77 210 XCD |
| HIGH | $520 1,400 XCD |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Saint Lucia
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Saint Lucia?
Around 59% of surveyed students think that living in Saint Lucia is affordable with proper budgeting while 41% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Saint Lucia
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options56%
Few low-cost options44%
Based on the survey, 56% of the students living in Saint Lucia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 44% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Saint Lucia whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes56%
No44%
Based on the survey, 44% of the students living in Saint Lucia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 56% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Saint Lucia
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy54%
We asked student guardians and parents in Saint Lucia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 46% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 54% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Saint Lucia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 45% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 55% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance45%
Easily manages finances55%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Saint Lucia
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Saint Lucia
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 350 XCD | 570 XCD | 1,400 XCD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 470 XCD | 710 XCD | 1,900 XCD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 570 XCD | 940 XCD | 2,600 XCD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,100 XCD | 2,800 XCD | 5,700 XCD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 940 XCD | 1,400 XCD | 4,000 XCD |
House monthly rent cost
| 1,100 XCD | 2,800 XCD | 5,700 XCD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 1,400 XCD | 3,500 XCD | 5,700 XCD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Saint Lucia ranges between 240 XCD and 940 XCD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 350 XCD to 1,400 XCD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 470 XCD and 1,900 XCD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 570 XCD to 2,600 XCD. The average rent of a townhouse in Saint Lucia is around 1,400 XCD while house rental costs can be as high as 2,800 XCD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 1,400 XCD to 5,700 XCD per month.
Apartment and house prices in Saint Lucia
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 47,000 XCD | 71,000 XCD | 140,000 XCD |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 57,000 XCD | 94,000 XCD | 350,000 XCD |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 94,000 XCD | 280,000 XCD | 570,000 XCD |
| $35,000 | $100,000 | $210,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 310,000 XCD | 470,000 XCD | 1.4M XCD |
| $120,000 | $170,000 | $520,000 |
Townhouse price
| 400,000 XCD | 940,000 XCD | 3.5M XCD |
House price
| 470,000 XCD | 2.8M XCD | 4M XCD |
Villa price
| 570,000 XCD | 3.1M XCD | 4.7M XCD |
The average price of a studio apartment in Saint Lucia can range from 47,000 XCD to 140,000 XCD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 57,000 XCD to 350,000 XCD. A villa can cost you 3.1M XCD on average with prices ranging from 570,000 XCD to 4.7M XCD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Saint Lucia will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 35 | x99 monthly income | 199 |
Property prices in Saint Lucia can be x99 to x199 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x99 multiples of the average monthly salary in Saint Lucia.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Saint Lucia is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 40% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
28% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Saint Lucia
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Saint Lucia
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 56 XCD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 14 XCD to 38 XCD with 28 XCD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 19 XCD but can range between 11 XCD and 57 XCD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Saint Lucia is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Saint Lucia
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Saint Lucia
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Saint Lucia is approximatly 5.7 XCD with meal cost ranging from 2.8 XCD to 9.4 XCD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 9.4 XCD and 28 XCD with 14 XCD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Saint Lucia.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 19 XCD to 110 XCD with the average cost being 28 XCD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Saint Lucia.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Saint Lucia is around 3.8 XCD. Price ranges between 2.4 XCD and 5.7 XCD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Saint Lucia is 2.3 XCD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 2.8 XCD and the minimum being 1.9 XCD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 1.9 XCD on average with 1.4 XCD and 2.8 XCD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Saint Lucia is between 3.2 XCD and 5.9 XCD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 4.2 XCD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 5.7 XCD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Saint Lucia costs around 2.1 XCD on average with prices rangeing between 1.5 XCD and 3 XCD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
| 0.57 XCD | 0.76 XCD | 1.4 XCD |
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 0.57 XCD to 1.4 XCD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 1.3 XCD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Saint Lucia is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 42 XCD to 1,900 XCD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
