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I am curious about what food will cost on saint john especially basics like bread, butter, half & half, eggs, sugar, meats veggies, etc.,. I posted this question along with a hunting/gathering question but cannot get the message board to connect me with original question and response. I thank those that have responded to the original question and look forward to further information.
This might help. Scroll down to St John
http://vimovingcenter.com/cost_of_living/
Island Lover,
The basic foods you mention will cost 20-30% higher than the states. Some times more depending where you shop. Rum, liquor,water and cigarettes are the only items that are less expensive than the states.
Food is very expensive. There are many posts saying food is 20-30% more then the states. I live in St John and go to the states several times a year. It is my experience that on a full grocery shop, expect to pay at least double what you pay in the states, depending on where you live.
Examples:
states St John (Starfish)
Tropicana OJ96oz $3.50 $8.00
1/2 and 1/2 $1.99 $3.99
Apples .lb .89 $2.95
Ben and Jerry's $2.50 $7.00
Head Iceburg lett $1.50 $5.00
Red Bell Pepper $1.89 $9.99
Boneless Chix .lb $2.39 $5.99
Cracker Barrel Chz $1.99 $7.99
Butter 227g .89 $1.79
DiGromo (sp?) pizza $3.59 $9.99
B.Crocker Brownie mix $1.29 $3.39
etc....
I don't want to discourage anyone from visiting, but we need to be honest so those visiting do visit with open eyes...and to be fair, prices have skyrocketed in the last 6 months...
On our last trip to STT/STJ last June (leaving this year on the 6th, can't wait!) we noticed that prices on STJ were about 40% higher than on STT! If you're taking the red hook ferry, you might want to shop at food center in Frydenhoj or at Marina market (a bit less selection and more $$)on St Thomas as Starfish STJ is grossly overpriced. A lot less competition on STJ from the Pueblo's and so on, so they get away with larceny prices.If you can stock up on STT and ferry it over to STJ you'll save some $$.
We shopped at Starfish, which I think is about the only grocery store on St. John, and had sticker-shock! Of course, we were prepared to pay more for food on an island, but holy cow!!!!
For example, a case of bottled water that in our chain supermarkets in Boston costs $5.99, was $22. eeeekkkkkkk!!!! This year we're shopping on St. Thomas before heading over to
St. John.
If you shop on St Thomas do you just carry the food onto the ferry? Is there a grocery store within wlaking distance of the ferry?
There's Marina Market across the street from the Red Hook ferry. With the new charge for baggage on the ferry, I wonder how they will treat boxes of groceries. Starfish is not the only market on STJ. There's Dolphin, Pine Peace, Simple Feast and on the Coral Bay side Love City and Calabash. As far as the bottled water is concerned, buy a couple of small bottles and a large Island Sun bottle and then refill. This could cut down on the cost of water.
Groceries are more expensive but not outrageous. Remember that everything has to be shipped in. Nature's Nook has a good selection of produce. I never buy everything in one place.
