Retiring in Sint Maarten: The Complete 2025 Guide
Why this tiny half-Dutch, half-French island punches far above its weight
Sun-splashed beaches, English-friendly locals, no language barrier for U.S. retirees, and direct flights from Miami all make Sint Maarten a perennial “dream list” destination. Yet day-to-day life is more complex than the glossy tourism reels suggest: nearly everything is imported, rents rival major U.S. metros, and the Caribbean hurricane belt demands careful budgeting for insurance and emergency flights. This guide puts real numbers behind the postcard, so you can decide whether life on the “Friendly Island” fits your nest egg.
1. Quick snapshot (USD, 2025)
- Cost-of-Living Index (Numbeo) ≈ 87.4 – about 13 % cheaper than New York but far higher than most of Latin America (numbeo.com)
- Health-Care Index 56.5 – “moderate” quality; major cases are med-evacuated to Puerto Rico or Miami (numbeo.com)
- Average 1-bed rent (Philipsburg or Simpson Bay) $2,300 / mo (numbeo.com)
- Groceries vs. U.S. ≈ +9.6 % (numbeo.com)
- Typical food shop for retirees $500–$800 / mo (legacywayinsurance.com)
- Residency route “Pensionado” permit—proof of $255 k in real-estate or similar assets and steady retirement income (brightpathcaribbean.com)
2. Housing: your biggest line-item
Rents soared after Hurricane Irma (2017) flattened much of the stock and have never fully retreated. Long-term listings routinely advertise:
| Unit | Location | Monthly ask |
|---|---|---|
| Modern 2-br condo | Point Pirouette | $2,700 (sunshine-properties.com) |
| 1-br city-centre flat | Philipsburg | $2,300 (numbeo.com) |
| 3-br lagoon-view villa | Cupecoy | $6,500 (numbeo.com) |
Locals spend 50-60 % of income on shelter—double the U.S. rule-of-thumb (shta.com). As a retiree, assume $1,800–$3,500 per month for anything with A/C and reliable utilities in the Dutch side’s safer districts (Cole Bay, Simpson Bay, Cupecoy).
3. Food & everyday spending
Because everything is shipped in, milk is $13 / gal and chicken runs $7 / lb (numbeo.com). Shopping local markets, using French-side supermarkets such as Super U, and eating lion-fish tacos instead of imported salmon keeps a couple’s grocery bill near $600. Add $300–$500 for dining out—an inexpensive local meal is $17, while a three-course date night averages $87.50 (numbeo.com).
4. Utilities, internet & getting around
- Utilities (915 sq ft A/C apartment) ≈ $365 / mo (numbeo.com)
- 50 Mbps fibre internet ≈ $67 / mo (numbeo.com)
- Gasoline $5.50 / gal; taxis start at $10 (numbeo.com)
- A used compact car holds resale value (no yearly road tax) but budget $700 / yr for hurricane-season comprehensive insurance.
5. Health-care reality check
Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) provides solid primary and emergency services, but private insurance is essential: international plans cost $150–$250 / mo for a 65-year-old and cover evacuation to Puerto Rico for major surgery. Expect to pre-pay 20 % of any hospital bill if your insurer reimburses rather than direct-bills (smmc.sx). Numbeo scores the system 56.5—respectable for the region but below Aruba (79) (numbeo.com, numbeo.com).
6. Sample retirement budgets (annual, USD)
| Lifestyle | Housing | Daily living | Insurance & misc | Total / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frugal beach-goer (Low) | $18,000 (small studio, no car) | $14,400 | $3,600 | $36,000 |
| Comfort-first (Medium) | $27,600 (1-br w/ lagoon view) | $18,000 | $9,600 | $55,200 |
| Jet-setter (High) | $42,000 (2-br penthouse) | $24,000 | $21,600 | $87,600 |
Groceries $600–$800, dining & entertainment $300–$600, utilities $350, transport $200–$400 are rolled into “Daily living.” Figures use the market prices cited earlier and factor hurricane-season travel or evacuation funds.
7. Taxes, residency & banking
The Pensionado permit offers a flat 10 % tax on foreign-sourced income once you’ve purchased property or show equivalent savings (brightpathcaribbean.com). All residents pay a 2 % premium toward exceptional medical expenses (capped at ANG 430 k ≈ $240 k) (sunshine-properties.com). U.S. Social Security is not taxed locally but remains subject to U.S. federal rules.
8. Quality-of-life pluses & minuses
| ✔ Pros | ✖ Cons |
|---|---|
| English widely spoken; USD accepted everywhere | Peak hurricane threat Aug–Oct; budget evacuation insurance |
| Year-round 80 °F water, world-class sailing, French bakeries | High import duties inflate groceries & building supplies |
| Modern airport with direct U.S./EU links | Limited specialist health care—serious cases fly out |
| Stable legal system under Dutch Kingdom | Residency requires significant asset proof or property buy-in |
Caribbean ranks recently placed Sint Maarten among the top 13 islands for retirees thanks to political stability and healthcare access (globalcitizensolutions.com), but living costs remain “higher than the U.S. or Canada,” so the island suits higher-net-worth budgets.
9. Is Sint Maarten right for you?
If your net worth comfortably clears $600 k–$1 M and tropical downtime outweighs the hassle of hurricane shutters and pricey milk, Sint Maarten delivers an easy transition—no language barrier, fast fibre internet, spectacular beaches, and a lively expat network of boaters and foodies. If stretching dollars is paramount, look instead at Nicaragua or Vietnam, where similar sunshine comes at a third of the rent.