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Affordability

(@us-ag)
Posts: 1
New Member
Topic starter
 

I am considering a move to STT this summer. It is contingent on getting a job there. I have not yet inquired on salary, but assume it will be decent. I'm wondering about the affordability of housing. I would almost certainly rent to start. With a family of four, I would likely be looking for a 3 bedroom house. It looks like those really start around $2000 a month. Is that as cheap as it gets for a decent house? How could I afford buying a house? What would you think is a necessary base salary to live a comfortable life?

 
Posted : March 9, 2018 6:41 pm
(@afriend)
Posts: 526
Honorable Member
 

For what is is worth, one should never “assume” anything about living in the Caribbean and that is especially true about assuming a salary level for a particular job will be “decent”. On average salaries in the Caribbean are often less than they are for comparable jobs back on the mainland. That coupled with a higher cost of living results in what many people refer to as the Catch-22 of island life.

As far as “how to afford a house” - well, perhaps you have to set your sights a little lower and look at smaller homes, get a second job to increase your income or maybe just rent and live simply until you can save up a bigger down payment.

By the way, most of the regular contributors here will tell not to buy until you’ve been on island for at least a year. That will give you time to figure out if you really like and adjust to island life as well as thoroughly check out the housing market.

Good luck with making your decision to relocate.

 
Posted : March 9, 2018 7:50 pm
(@stjohnjulie)
Posts: 1065
Noble Member
 

This is always a really tough question for anyone to answer. We don't know how you live now, what you consider a necessity. People who seem to adapt better here are the kind of people who don't mind doing without a lot of creature comforts.

Sounds like you may have a couple of children... that is a game changer. Most transplants tend to put their kids in private school. That will set you back $15,000+ per kid per year.

There is a lot of great info on this forum. I encourage you to read through it (even all of the really old posts) and come back and ask more specific questions so we can better help you.

 
Posted : March 10, 2018 7:52 am
(@ironheadUSVI)
Posts: 253
Reputable Member
 

And what do you plan to do for health insurance for your family?

 
Posted : March 10, 2018 11:24 am
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