If you do a search on this forum, all of your questions were discussed at length within the past few months.

In short, costs are fairly comparable to the states if you come from a major city like LA, Chicago, New York. Otherwise they may be higher than what you're used to. It's up to you whether its worth it to drag around a loaded cooler. Past posts offered a myriad of different opinions on this. All the markets on STJ are priced pretty much the same.

Just got back from 8 days in paradise. We stopped at Pueblos in STT before heading over to STJ. We spend $90 at Pueblos and the groceries last almost all week. The few things we did buy in STJ we pricey. We found that the grocery store in Love City was much cheaper than Lillys. Good luck.

Starfish is the big market in Cruz Bay. We last stayed in Coral Bay and, like the previous poster, found the prices at Love City to be cheaper than Lilly's. Everything is expensive, but I don't consider it to be worth the hassle of bringing a cooler from the mainland, or even stopping at a market on STT unless you are renting a car there and taking the car ferry.

Have fun, and think of the $$$ you're saving by cooking instead of eating out!

I am originally from central Illinois, which makes prices in STT and STJ look absolutely astronomical...however, the first time I went to St. John I was living in Boston and found the prices to be outrageous compared to Boston. I currently live near Chicago, and I still think the STT/STJ prices are a lot higher than they are here. But it also depends on what you buy...on STT, you can count on spending nearly $6 on a gallon of milk...something you're obviously not going to lug on a plane.

It really depends on how much effort you want to make to save some money...I work in the meat business and cannot bear to spend the STT & STJ prices on meat when I can easily bring it myself. Taking into account what I save on the meat and what I don't spend eating at restaurants, I save a few hundred dollars each trip.

Your best bet is to bring down some of your staple items with you. If you want to go through the hassle of bringing down perishables, it too can be worth it. The prices are high and the quality is not the best. Everything is shipped in and deliveries are brought in only once a week so your options may run out if you are not there at the right time. You can also stop at Marina Market in Redhook before getting on the ferry to STJ. They have a great vegetable and meat selection at better quality but not maybe prices.

Just got back from STJ last week. We had a large villa with a full kitchen so we did shop. Spent about $150 a day at the market (Starfish) but we were a party of 9 & were advised to purchase drinking water- between coffee, drinks, etc we drank a lot of water. Did breakfast & snacks at the villa & a few dinners. Cheese is expensive, cold cuts the same as where I live (DC Metropolitian area) juice $6.00 a gallon, rum, vodka etc cheap! Pre-made deli salads expensive. 6 pack diet ginger ale $4, ground beef for burgers was pretty cheap (& made the best burgers!) It really was not as bad as I thought. Not near as bad as a can of Bud at the pool bar at the Westin (believe it was 5.95) or a burger there for $14.95.