Is St Croix cheaper than Puerto Rico?

St Croix and Puerto Rico are essentially tied on monthly moderate cost: both sit at roughly $3,600 per person per month in CostLiving’s benchmark, with housing within a few dollars of each other ($2,320 on St Croix, $2,326 on PR). The practical differences are off the headline number. Puerto Rico has a far larger rental market, more inventory in any given price band, and meaningfully lower utility costs (St Croix’s WAPA electric rates are among the highest in the US system). PR’s Act 60 tax incentives shift the picture for high earners, who can pay 4 percent on Puerto Rico-sourced income and zero on certain investment income if they meet residency rules: the USVI has parallel EDC incentives but stricter qualification. Day-to-day grocery prices run similar across both. For the full breakdown, see our St Croix cost of living page.