What Are The Pros And Cons of Living In St Lucia

St Lucia is an amazing Caribbean island with lush rainforests, mountainous peaks and friendly people.

In this article, we will dive deeper into the pros and cons of living in this beautiful Caribbean island.

As a general rule, the pros of living in St Lucia are the rich culture, stable currency, easy access to international cities and beautiful natural scenery. Alternatively, the cons of living in St Lucia are the loss of privacy, the threat of natural disasters and high cost of living.

Read on for further details and explanations of all the pros and cons of living on St Lucia. Contributions to the completion of the article were made by St Lucians.

Pros of Living In St Lucia

Rich Culture

One of the unique aspects of the St Lucians culture that has survived generations unlike islands like Grenada is their patois.

This language is a form of French Creole and it is still widely used throughout the island today.

In other Caribbean islands like Grenada where this practiced existed, adults used the language to speak among themselves so that children would not understand what was being communicated. As a result, the language died.

The island usually celebrates Carnival every year as well as the world renowned St Lucia Jazz Festival which attracts famous entertainers and visitors to its shore annually.

Green fig and saltfish is the national dish of the island.

See Also: What Are The Pros & Cons of Living In Grenada  &  What Are The Pros And Cons of Living in St Vincent

Beautiful Natural Scenery

St Lucia is naturally beautiful and is home to two unique features that locals and visitors to the island can enjoy. First, the drive in volcano is a must see on the island.

You can drive into the crater of the volcano and stand in the bubbling sulphur spring. Another attraction that is a must see on the island is the Piton.

The piton is an incredible twin peaks that are designated as UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004 located at the south of the island.

In addition, the island has an abundance of beautiful beaches. Some of the well loved ones by locals and visitors alike are pigeon beach, sugar beach and reduit beach.

See below a beautiful sunset view of the Pitons.

Stable Currency

The official currency of St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which has been pegged to the US (United States) dollar since July 7^th, 1976 at a rate of USD $1 to XCD $2.70.

This currency is also shared by seven other Eastern Caribbean islands and is managed through a regional central bank which is based in St Kitts.

The US dollar is readily accepted by businesses on the island. However, expect to get change in the XCD dollar.

As with every other country, at times a business may be skeptical to accept larger US banknotes but the smaller denominations are easy to spend around the island.

US notes that are worn or torn are usually rejected.

Friendly People

As a general rule, St Lucians are very friendly and welcoming. 

It is easy for one to visit or relocate to the island and integrate with the locals. St Lucian was one of the favorite places of the late singer Amy Winehouse.

The island is a great place to relocate with a family and it’s an ideal environment for raising children. Expats tend to live more in the Rodney Bay area

Easy Access To International Cities

St Lucia is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the Southern Caribbean. As a result, there are several options available for international travelers to connect to the island.

The island is now currently served by several major international carriers from various cities thus making access to the island seamless.  Examples of these airlines include

• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Jet Blue
• British Airways
• US Airways
• Sunwing
• West Jet
• TUI Airlines

It Is Easy To Visit Neighboring Islands

Visitors to the island will find that it is easy to travel to the neighboring islands of Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe from St Lucia by ferry.

They are day trips available and persons usually travel across for shopping trips, recreational purposes and also medical reasons.

Medical services are usually sought out from the French Territories.

Luxury Experiences Are Available

St Lucia is home to the famous Jade Mountain Resort that has been featured in various magazines and other publications around the world.

This one of a kind resort has amazing mountain, unique architecture and sea views.

The resort is located on its own estate that grows some of its own organic food. See below a picture of this amazing resort.

Cons of Living In St Lucia

The Threat of Natural Disasters Is High

St Lucia lies in the hurricane belt and has experienced significant devastation to property, livestock and crops in the past.

One of the most destructive hurricanes to hit the island was hurricane Tomas in 2010 which killed 14 people and caused massive damaged to roads, bridges and property.

In addition, the island has a volcano called Soufriere which as other volcanoes in the Caribbean is under surveillance for any signs of eruptions.

There Could Be A Loss Of Privacy

While there is a great sense of community which can be helpful, the drawback to this is that there is a loss of privacy.

In small villages and communities where everyone knows everyone, people may tend to overstep which can be detrimental to relationships and families, hence a measure of privacy could be loss.

The Mosquitoes Can Be Annoying

While the tropical weather makes the island a remarkable place for visiting the beach and hiking its many majestic trails, the wet season brings mosquitoes and flies.

Visitors to the island are advised during the rainy season to utilize repellent as well as a mosquito net to avoid the bites.

The Government as well as private businesses usually fumigate during the rainy season to kill mosquitoes.

The flies on the other hand though harmless can be annoying and one must clean up constantly to keep them at bay.

High Cost of Living

Since a lot of what is consumed on the island is imported, the cost of goods on the island tends to be high.

Hereunder is a table the cost of some basic food items on the island. These prices were taken from a supermarket in St Lucia. All the prices below are expressed in US Dollars.,

Infrastructure Is Underdeveloped

The road networks and medical facilities on the island are not as developed as those in an advanced country.

Locals on the island usually seek medical assistance from neighboring French territories as well as the United States of America.

The Government is currently working to improve St Jude Hospital which should elevate the local health care system in the future.

There Is A Slower Pace of Life

Generally, the pace on the island is slow. Night life is not as brisk when compared to other larger islands such as Barbados.

There are activities available especially in the Rodney bay area such as clubs and bars.

The slower pace of life may also extend at times in terms of getting things done.

The culture is relatively laid back so getting things done may take longer than in a more advanced country.

Final Thoughts

On a whole, the pros of living in St Lucia are beautiful natural scenery, rich culture, stable currency, friendly people and easy access to neighboring islands and international cities. Alternatively, the cons are the slower pace of life, poor infrastructure and high cost of living.

Need More Information?

Feel free to browse our website for more content on St Lucia and the Caribbean by using the search bar located at the top of this page.

The following are some of our articles which we believe may be suitable for you.

Best Caribbean Islands For Solo Female Travel

Best Currency For St Lucia ( The Ultimate Guide)

St Lucia vs Anguilla ( Which Island Is Better To Visit)

St Lucia Vs St Vincent ( Which Island Is Better To Visit)

St Lucia Vs St Thomas ( Which Island Is Better For A Vacation)

St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos ( Which Island Is Better For A Vacation)