Part 1 The Southern Islands
Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Les Saints, Saint Vincent, Bequia, Canouan, Carriacou and Grenada.
Before our trip, we have asked ourselves “how much does life cost in the Caribbean?”. Based on the experience of the first year we decided to do this “price comparison”. We visited 10 islands and one thing is clear: the Caribbean is not cheap. We often ask ourselves how people can survive here?
The average income is very different. What seems bad to us is the fact that people without income usually don’t get any support. So if you didn’t see any more customers in your rental car company because of Corona, if your restaurant was empty, bad luck for you..
Caribbean differences How much does the Caribbean cost?
Today we are talking about the southern Caribbean. That is, everything south of Guadeloupe. The most obvious difference is this: do you belong to the EU or not. Martinique and Guadeloupe are a department of France and therefore belong to the EU. All the others are on their own. Of course there are support programmes and aid organisations. But on the other hand, you have to look at the governments. Until today, I have not met a single “Caribbean” who does not assume that his government is corrupt. People here seem to have internalised it that way and in some cases just accept it. So, “How much does life cost in the Caribbean?” does not depend so much on the people and products, but also on the government.
Why nutmeg, of all things, is more expensive in Grenada, where 90% of Caribbean nutmegs are grown, than in Guadeloupe, is hard to figure out. There are usually strange regulations behind it. For example, a cocoa farmer in Grenada is not allowed to decide for himself to whom he sells his harvest. He has to bring everything to the cooperative, which sets the price. Of course, there are power structures behind this. We asked everywhere if they could see the villa of the respective prime minister or governor. Honestly, sometimes your eyes glaze over. The gap between rich and poor is very clear here.
Know where
The most important thing to find quality food at a good price is to know where. There are tourist markets and the second-row market. And there are the recommendations. Jenny’s vegetables, which provide great variety and quality in Grenada, are perfect. In Saint Lucia there is a boat dealer that everyone knows in the harbour (Rodney Bay) who supplies amazingly varied fruit. In Guadeloupe and Martinique the big supermarkets are a dream to provision and in Bequia just eat at Jack’s Bar.
Cost comparison
So we decided to start a price comparison here and to keep adding to it. Of course we are talking about average prices. (Admittedly, there is still little data, but we are constantly expanding, we promise 🙂)
| All prices in EURO | Guadeloupe | Grenada | Martinique | Saint Vincent | Bequia | Saint Lucia | Dominica |
| PCR Test 9/21 | 80 | 140 | 0 | 55 | 55 | 110 | 55 |
| Cup of Coffee | 2 | 1,5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1,5 | 1 |
| 1 kg Coffee | 15 | 30 | 15 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
| 6 Pack Bier | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 1 Pizza | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| 1 kg Tomatos | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 1 kg Rice | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 10 km Taxi | 15 | 20 | 14 | 15 | – | 20 | 12 |
| 1 bar Chocolade | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Geld abheben pro 100 Euro | – | – | – | 5 | 5 | 11 | 5 |
If you have any questions or requests, please let us know. / Karin Binz
Weather in Grenada:
Sunrise: 5:57 h, sunset 17.46 h. Temperatures day 31+ felt 38, night: 28 degrees Celsius. Very changeable, sunny and cloudy in rapid alternation. Very heavy rain several times during the day. Wind 5-6 Bft.
Interessanter Vergleich. Vielen Dank und lieben Gruß.
Moin, ja der Vergleich ist super interessant, zeigt er doch auf, was ihr vorher schon erwähnt habt; wie teuer ist die Karibik – nicht wie billig ist die Karibik. Wir haben für uns auf unseren Reisen durch die Welt immer wieder das Phänomen festgestellt; die Ärmsten Länder sind mit die Teuersten. Die Erklärung haben Euch die Einheimischen schon geliefert….. Korruption. Leider ist es wohl tatsächlich so. Denn wenn ich als Erzeuger meinen Preis nicht selber bestimmen darf, dann läuft da was “schief”.
Geht weiterhin auf die Märkte der Einheimischen…… das ist das Beste !
Viele liebe Grüße aus Teneriffa – wir sind wieder in unserem Revier.
Jürgen und Angelika