How Much Does It Cost To Live On A Caribbean Island? Part 1
It’s another winter back in Roatan, Honduras and I tend to get the same question when my clients/new friends find out I move from Canada to Honduras every winter to escape the cold (and the lifestyle of Southern Ontario).
The number one question I get is “How much does it cost to live on a Caribbean Island”. Followed by “it must be nice!”. Like moving to an island is somehow either cost or lifestyle prohibitive. So I thought I capture the costs of moving to Roatan for the winter.
Let’s look at the fixed costs of living in Roatan
TRAVEL COSTS
– Flights $1000 per person, Westjet Ecoflex (Ticket, seat selection, 1 pc of luggage)
– Flights for dogs (under 20lb) $200 per dog (they fly in cabin, remain under the seat, and from Toronto, only Westjet offers direct pet-friendly flights)
– Dog Travel Documents $365 per dog ($490 if their rabies shots are expired)
This includes:
– Updated vaccines (Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Parvovirus)
– Updated treatments (flea, tick, heartworm)
– CFIA Tri-lingual Vet Certificate filled out by vet within 10 days of travel
– CFIA fee paid in person (call ahead to book an appointment) at a CFIA office, $40
– Honduran Department of Agriculture fee paid upon arrival, $25
– Exit paperwork to go back to Canada $130 USD (approx $170 CAD) per dog (again, must be done 10 days prior to returning to Canada by one of the certified vets in Roatan, I use Dr. Bolivar at Bonanza Vet Clinic or Dr. Soto at Animal Kingdom)
TOTAL COST OF TRAVEL (2 ADULTS, 2 DOGS) $3780.00
This can be done cheaper if you choose a fair below EcoFlex, but we like the flexibility and want to pick out seats. The savings isn’t worth it for us. I also think our vet overcharges a bit for the paperwork, but we didn’t have another option. Lastly, IF you are NOT flying direct, you will need to have your pet vaccinated for rabies over the border in the USA, because, at the time this was written, you CANNOT transport a dog back from Honduras transiting through the States IF your dog hasn’t been vaccinated by a certified American vet.
A quick note about flights, you MUST look for the sales and grab them when you find them – WestJet and Sunwing are the only 2 carriers that fly direct from Toronto. American Airlines and Air Canada combined with United Airlines fly indirectly (usually with an overnight stopover) and if you watch for the sale, you can get it for around $700 including taxes during high season.
Lodging $800-2500 per month (Let me break this down for you the difference)
The island of Roatan is small, Roatan is 40 miles long and at its widest its only 5 miles wide. It’s a long and narrow island. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a small island off the coast of Honduras. It has a long and interesting history, and its vibe is somewhere between a classic boho vibe with a blend of tourists, divers, nomads, snowbirds, and ex-pats from all over the world who have made this small island their home.
Lodging here will depend on a number of factors, including where you stay and how far it is from what I consider the “tourist zone” of West Bay and to some degree, West End. There’s a great resource on Facebook that many use to find lodging, but always ask exactly where your lodging is because although it’s small, it’s easy to find yourself in the middle of nowhere with no easy access to shops, stores and entertainment (bars/restaurants) without a vehicle.
Having said this – that doesn’t necessarily mean living in West End (where you can walk to all these places). There are other parts of the island that have communities and shops besides West End/West Bay! I choose West End because I love the vibe, I started out here a few years ago, and have just never ventured out to any of the other areas. I pay the price but it’s my choice.
What’s the difference between an $800 apartment and a $2500 apartment besides location?
- Style – an older Island style home will typically cost less than a North American newer home
- Comfort – what do you NEED in a house? How many bedrooms, what type of furniture/decor/wifi do you need – the more you put on your checklist, the higher the price goes
- Amenities – need a pool, yard, washer/dryer? This will all cost more
- Proximity to central areas – add in “walking distance to West End” or “Ocean View close to West Bay”, expect your budget to go way up.
If you want a small 1 bedroom modern North American style apartment, on/near West Bay Beach with a pool, expect to pay around $2500-$3500/month USD PLUS electricity and water! But if you’re looking for something more island-style, maybe a 1 bedroom apartment in a house that has been converted to several apartments – 10 minutes walk from the West End strip that has modest furniture – you may find something closer to the $1000/month USD mark (keep in mind a 3-month stay is not considered “long stay” but is considered an extended stay, and although it’s discounted from a short stay, you won’t pay as little as if you rented for 1 year. In fact, I think it bothers the owners to hear when travelers are looking for a 1 month reservation and call it long-term! I’ve seen some nasty responses on FB about that.
What about transportation?
(All prices are in USD)
Airport pick up or drop-off ranges between $10 and $35.
$10 if you drag your suitcase to the road, hail down a taxi, and then share your ride with others along the way (you have to exude confidence for this one, and have the patience to let the taxi driver say no and leave because chances are, the next one will say “yes”).
$20-$25 for an airport taxi direct to West End/West Bay area
$35 for a pre-arranged ride with a stop at one of the local grocery stores(I use a local driver, Alex, who drives a 12-passenger comfortable and reliable van). By the way, you can reach him through Whatsapp if you need a drive at +50495901743.
Alex is also my connection if I need to tour the island or rent a car! His island tours are priced by the “van”, not person – so you can get a full-day driver to take you wherever you want (or he can make suggestions) for around $150-$200! You pay your own food and entrance fees and he gets you there and back safely. We did this with 7 people last year – you can’t beat less than $25 per person for an island tour!
I rent a small SUV for around $300/week, you can get a small car for less, around $210 but some of the cars at that price are “island style” (we typically see Corollas).
All-in-all, the cost of living on an island like Roatan doesn’t seem unreasonable to me – I don’t pay for luxurious accommodations, I’m paying for the sun, ocean, and laid-back lifestyle of island life. That doesn’t have to come wrapped in a high-end all-inclusive resort. Give me a hammock and I’m happy.
What about groceries and bars/restaurants?
That’s going to have to wait until Part 2 of this series! I am keeping track of those expenses and I’ll need a whole blog dedicated to it!
Be Safe, stay healthy, hug your pets!
~Ange