The Challenges of Life in Antigua

Food: I dream about it at night, that’s how much I miss it!

If you’ve lived in cities where gastronomy reigns supreme, where culinary diversity is immense and abundance is the norm, arriving in Antigua can be quite a shock. The upside? I’ve lost all my extra pounds and I no longer hesitate to put on my swimsuit 😀

Thankfully, in recent years, Epicurean has opened, a supermarket worthy of a big city… but with prices that instantly cool your enthusiasm.

Summer is particularly tough for us: the south of the island empties of many dual‑citizen residents, and the small groceries become desperately bare. Yes, we’ve started cooking seriously, but our recipes are nothing like the locals’, who are used to goat and salted fish.

And the most absurd part? Finding fresh fish is a challenge. Incredible for an island, right? Yet it’s our reality. We love mahi-mahi, wahoo, red snapper, and tuna. After some searching, we found a few local fishermen, but the prices remain high.

As for fruits, we buy locally, but there are no mangoes or pineapples year‑round. Papayas are more accessible, but peaches, apricots, cherries, melons, cherry tomatoes… all these fruits I love are sorely missed. Vegetables are similar: spinach and a few local products are easy to find, but most others (broccoli, zucchini, etc.) are imported and much more expensive.

Of course, with a healthy budget, you can find well-stocked gourmet stores and quality restaurants. But for everyday life, you have to adapt.

Cost of Living: Everything is Imported, Everything is Expensive

If food can be a surprise, the rest of daily life isn’t necessarily easier. In Antigua, almost everything is imported, and import taxes can be astronomical depending on the product. From small appliances to furniture, bedding, décor, and even cars… everything is expensive.

Of course, it depends where you come from. We came from Montreal, not New York, so the shock was real. Depending on your currency, costs may feel even higher.  Canadian dollars, for example, make you want to cry!

If you’re planning to move here, bring as much of your stuff as possible in a container. I always give my new clients a list: “what to bring, hard-to-find items, expensive products, and essentials you wouldn’t think of.”

Even if you’re not an Amazon fan, you’ll likely end up ordering online and arranging shipping from Florida to Antigua, since Amazon doesn’t deliver here. Sometimes it’s cheaper than buying in local stores, sometimes it’s just the only way to find what you want.

Housing: Not the Most Affordable Island

Again, it depends on your frame of reference. If you’re coming from Paris or New York, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you can get for the price of a small apartment in your home city.

However, for expats used to more moderate costs, housing can be a shock. A $400,000 house exists, but forget ocean views. For more choices, expect to spend $600,000–$800,000. Land prices are also high. Building your dream house, once a good idea, is now far more expensive due to rising material costs.

Rentals are hard to find because some owners make more money renting short-term to vacationers. For a two-bedroom house, expect to pay around $2,000 USD per month.

Air and Sea Connections: Limited and Expensive

It’s easy to reach some destinations: Miami, New York, Toronto, London, or a few Caribbean islands like Sint Maarten and Dominica by plane.

But in the past, there were more direct flights to Europe (Italy, France…). Today, even traveling to Guadeloupe, just 70 km away, is complicated and expensive. As someone who's now become food-obsessed, you can imagine my frustration because food in Guadeloupe... oh my!

I’m a bit jealous of the French West Indies, where affordable ferries let you explore almost all the islands quickly. When will Antigua have the same?

Conclusion

Antigua is a beautiful island, but it helps to have a comfortable budget. Life here is nothing like in some South American countries or the French Caribbean: it’s more like the cost of living in a major U.S. city… but without the abundance of food.

Minimalist life, high budget… but the scenery makes these inconveniences easy to forget 😂🌴

And you, could you see Antigua as your new home?

 

Coming Up Next…
In the next posts, we'll discuss other real-life challenges of living in Antigua (like the deeply ingrained "I don't care" culture and the prejudices of some Antiguans who automatically associate expat with wealth) as well as everything that might help you prepare for your move.

Useful links to explore
Living In Antigua And Barbuda: The Ultimate Expat Guide