Data on cost of living in SLU and more

Official figures on the Net do not keep pace with cost of living changes, which mostly go up.

Food prices go up steadily because of higher import prices plus 15% VAT (introduced in Oct. 2012).

Rents came down since 2008.

As an island with fertile volcanic land and good weather (no need for irrigation here), there is a great variety and seasonal abundance of local tropical fruits & vegetables: yam, dasheene, christopherine, turnip, toloman, casava, breadfruit, plantain, green banana (has nothing to do with banana as you know it), noni, chichima, tumeric, sour soap, five finger, pomme cannelle, pomme d'amour, mangoes of several flavors, akee, nutmeg, etc.  Did you know any of these?

At the markets and agricultural trade fairs, prices are negotiable.
If you want to leave with the smile on your face, do not touch anything on the stand without negotiating the price first ...