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I am looking to relocate to the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, I am trying to decide which island is best for me. I am mainly looking at St. John and St. Thomas, but I am open to St. Croix. I will be moving alone so naturally I want to be somewhere safe, but fun. I just want to be able to enjoy nature and have many outdoor activity options. I also would like to be near some shops and bars/restaurants. I am not much of a drinker but I enjoy having the option. I want to be able to meet people somewhat my own age and socialize. What island would you recommend for nature and socializing? Also, what neighborhoods, beaches, or areas to look for places to live in?
I am looking to relocate to the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, I am trying to decide which island is best for me. I am mainly looking at St. John and St. Thomas, but I am open to St. Croix. I will be moving alone so naturally I want to be somewhere safe, but fun. I just want to be able to enjoy nature and have many outdoor activity options. I also would like to be near some shops and bars/restaurants. I am not much of a drinker but I enjoy having the option. I want to be able to meet people somewhat my own age and socialize. What island would you recommend for nature and socializing? Also, what neighborhoods, beaches, or areas to look for places to live in?
I don't know, but I do know that it's usually not a good idea to pick up and move to a new location without having a job lined up or without a significant cash cushion.
I just returned home from St. Thomas after a month. Wages are low and the cost of living is super high. Booze are cheap though. Large pizza will run you about $30. Season is just getting started down there. Good luck finding affordable housing or a job. Everything is super expensive. I will go back someday when I have $20,000 cash I don't care about spending, some sailing experience, and a Jeep that I can ship there. Until then it's looking like I'm going to FL.
I had a 1 bedroom apartment, cramped, ant filled, and disgusting for $750 a month. That is a cheaper priced apartment in St. Thomas.
Honestly, if you have never went to any of the islands, stay away. Visit first, please! Everybody thinks it's paradise, but it's not when you're actually living there. St. John was my favorite place to get away from STT, but the cost of living there is even higher and they have no jobs.
We had a 3 bedroom house, 180 degree northside view, just off the Hull Bay Road and no goat path to get there. $1000 a month a couple years ago. Eclectic setup with the Frenchies, but we were "protected." Hullbay Hideaway down the hill just beyond whatever they call Bryan's Bar these days. Yeah. Loved it, hated it, hated going over the mountain to downtown. Not a lot of transplants make it more than a few months. It's a very different kind of life. We never had any serious problems, but the entitlement attitude of the general populous wears on you after awhile. You won't find rents like we did ever again, but I'll bet we could move back there and get a cheap rent in a heartbeat in the Hull Bay area. Lotta lotta young people move there and either get into trouble one way or the other, or fall into the party life. Living on St. John, without a GOOD job, you can double the outrageous cost of living on St. Thomas. Even the BVI gang come over to Cost U More, Pricesmart and KMart for all their shopping needs every weekend. A buddy of mine came up with a bumper sticker years ago "St. Thomas, You Can't Make This Sh*t Up!"
Definitely make sure you have a job, especially coming to St. Thomas or St. John. Those two are more expensive that St. Croix.
It's true that transplants tend to have a tougher time, particularly if the have no Caribbean background or experience living in a less affluent environment. People do not cater to you because you are from the mainland. It's a different culture. It's best to be open and respectful of that. There are some things that will grate your nerves a bit, and other experiences that are priceless. I live in a clean, quiet place for $850 per month, close to UVI. It's lovely. So there are some good finds if you look. All the best if you do come.
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