Antigua and Barbuda
Profiled in St. John's · the Caribbean
St. John's is a sun-bleached harbour town where cruise ships, cricket talk and rum punch share the same breezy afternoon.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Antigua imports almost everything, so groceries and power run high. Rents swing hard between town flats and beachfront.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in St. John's
- St. John's CathedralBaroque twin-towered Anglican cathedral that crowns the town skyline.
- Heritage QuayDuty-free shopping complex right by the cruise pier.
- Redcliffe QuayRestored 18th-century warehouses now full of shops and cafes.
- Museum of Antigua and BarbudaIsland history housed in the old colonial courthouse.
- St. John's Public MarketLively Friday and Saturday produce market at the south end of town.
- Fort JamesColonial fort guarding the harbour mouth just north of the centre.
- Fort BarringtonHilltop ruin with sweeping views over Deep Bay.
- Dickenson BayPopular calm-water beach a short drive north of the city.
- Antigua Recreation GroundThe old test cricket ground in the heart of town.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- BarbudaSister island with pink sand and a huge frigate bird colony, a short ferry or hop by air.
- English Harbour and Nelson's DockyardUNESCO-listed Georgian naval yard on the calm south coast.
- Shirley HeightsHilltop lookout known for its Sunday sunset barbecue and steel band.
- Devil's BridgeNatural limestone arch carved by the Atlantic at Indian Town Point.
- Half Moon BayWide crescent of pink-tinged sand on the wild eastern shore.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Hemingway's Caribbean CafeGreen veranda on St. Mary's Street for coffee, rum punch and people-watching.
- Cafe NapoleonCourtyard bistro tucked into Redcliffe Quay, good for a light lunch.
- C&C Wine BarLong-running Redcliffe Quay spot pouring South African wines by the glass.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- Papa ZoukCult fish and rum shack off Hilda Davis Drive, a local institution.
- Hemingway's Caribbean CafeCaribbean classics served on the first-floor balcony.
- Big Banana Pizzas in ParadiseCasual wood-fired pizza at Redcliffe Quay.
- Roti KingNo-frills counter for rotis and hearty local plates.
- Home RestaurantUpscale Caribbean cooking by chef Carl Thomas at Gambles Terrace.
Morning
Best breakfast
- Hemingway's Caribbean CafeBreakfast on the balcony above Heritage Quay.
- Cafe NapoleonCoffee and morning plates in a quiet Redcliffe Quay courtyard.
Residency
Antigua and Barbuda runs a Citizenship by Investment program via a national fund donation or qualifying real estate, with a short stay required across the first five years. Ordinary and tax-residency permits also exist and suit remote earners who want a base.
Tax
There is no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax. The government funds itself mainly through import duties and a sales tax, so day-to-day prices carry the load.
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Antigua and Barbuda tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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