the cost of living on saba seems to be a big topic on this message board.
so I thought I would give you MY expenses in a typical month.

these exclude 1st sem dorm fee +- $1500 for the 1st sem and school fees. the following expenses are typical of 2nd through 5th.

housing - $350 for my own room. I live with 3 our guys. (great house)but you can find your own place for under $500 including utlities
electricity- $65 per person but it ranges
phone- $25 main monthly charge, (a $500 refundable deposit is need for a phone line, but you split that with your roommates.)
grosseries- $40-60 a week, of which water is the biggest expense
nightlife???? -$30 and you'll have a headache the next morning (beer-$2)
If you smoke(bad)- $1.50 a pack
cafetteria- $6.00 for lunch (meal and drink) but most people bring their own
TV cable- I think is $35 a month but in some places it is free
enternet- $30 a month but you split that with roomates, I payed $7.50.

misc
Car-$ 2500 for a good car, you'll sell it for what you payed for it.
$28 a week for gas. YOU DONT NEED A CAR IT JUST GIVES YOU MORE FREEDOM.
AC'S - it gets hot so get one, buy 2nd hand $150-200 and you will sell it for about the same.

The rule of thumb on saba is if you by it, you can sell it. The 5th sems have a sale at the end of the sem where everyone buys there stuff, so dont think that you are losing money.

As for school tuition it is very resonable, And I dont know of any so called hidden costs.

I have not been to either ross or ST. G's but I will tell you something about saba - I can not think of a better place in the world to study, because 1)everybody around you is studing medicine, 2) there is very very little distractions. Honestly students do 3 things, workout, hike, and study. I could not design a more perfect place to study, it is just such a great atmosphere to spend 2 of the hardest yrs of your life, I realy miss it.

Safety, there is no island in the caribbean this is going to be safer, that does not mean that things dont happen because they do. (my girlfriend had a peeping tom) but the cops were great and it stoped right away. They take crime very seriously. When there is trouble 99.9 times it is some one not from the island. The island is safe!.
It is very hard to commit a crime when the population is 1300 and EVERYONE KNOWS EVERyONE.

SO I think that should be usefull, sorry that it is not the most orginized note.

cheers

recent 3rd yr

the subject title pretty much sums up my gratitude!!!

thanks

__________________
Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

SABA should definitely place something similar to your breakdown in the student handbook - Very helpful!

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Ducman
Saba University School of Medicine

Yes, Ducman (hey, can I call you ducky- would that be insulting? and, How did you come up with that user name).
I concur with you, Saba should put a similar breakdown of COL-cost of living in their student handbook. Even if the prices fluctuate, you'd at least have an idea of what you'd be spending there. I do like the current student handbook though; it's direct and clearly explains what's expected of students. Should we send this mail to the main office and suggest they place a similar COL breakdown for the next edition of the student handbook?

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Each Breath you take today is sponsored in part by God.

Islandboy's info seems right on the money (no pun intended).

Thanks.

Best of Luck!

I received my acceptance package in may. And Yes, a list of "cost breakdown" was included. however. I have a number qutions re: fees.
Peace.

Here you go Blah. I hope this is helpful to you. (I don't know how to do that whole quote thing that you see on some of the other posts- I'd be a good grasshopper if someone wanted to tell me how to do it )

__________________
Each Breath you take today is sponsored in part by God.