Advertisements

It’s been a wet start to the year, with Britain being buffeted by heavy rain in the wake of Storm Henk. In that context it’s easy to dream of escaping to a desert island with a warmer climate – but how much would that actually cost? 

Yopa, the full service estate agents, has analysed current private island for sale stock around the world to reveal the answer. Yopa also looked at how prices stack up on islands across the British Isles, for those who’d like the island lifestyle but would prefer to stick closer to home at a more affordable price.

The research shows that, on average, a private island will set you back almost £2.2m in the current market, although this price does vary drastically depending on where you set your sights. 

Caribbean – the iconic choice

When people dream of islands of paradise the Caribbean springs to mind, known for its resplendent beaches and clear waters. However an island in such an idyllic part of the world comes at a heavy price, with buyers having to spend a typical £4.7 million on average to own an island in the Caribbean.

Many also cost well in excess of this amount, like this listing of Royal Island in the Bahamas – where you’d have to fork out $45 million (£35.3 million) to make it your own.

Other warm locations

For those wanting a private island with a warm climate, Central America is a surprisingly affordable option, where you can land an island for £1.4 million on average. Indeed, it actually costs just £17,000 more to buy an Island in Central America than a property in London’s Kensington and Chelsea.

Closer to Britain, African islands average at £2.5 million, putting them in the middle ground of island affordability. Another option is the South Pacific, costing an estimated £2.9 million, while South America is the second most expensive region to buy an island, at £3.2 million.

Varied climates

In Asia and Europe, home to a range of climates, buying an Island costs an average of £2.1 and £1.9 million respectively.

In Europe sought after countries in which to buy an island include Greece, as this listing is currently on sale for (£4.9 million) – highlighting how sunny islands are generally more desirable. The United States also comes at the cheaper end, with a typical price of £1.7 million

Canada – the cheapest option

In Canada the average cost of a private island is ‘just’ £1.1 million, making it the cheapest region to realise your private island dreams. It’s perhaps unsurprising it sits low down the list, due to its reputation as a cold country, though the climate depends on where you are in the nation.

For example many islands for sale are in British Columbia, a province on the country’s west coast which is known for its mild winters. 

Islands in Britain

If you’d like to live a secluded island life you needn’t break the bank, as Britain has a number of options for those looking to put water between themselves and the mainland.

The Isle of Man, known for its hills and rugged beauty, is one option for those looking to leave the mainland. However it’s not a cheap island to buy property, with an average house price of £390,000. 

The sunny Isle of Wight is another option, which has a typical price of £285,000, just under the British average of £291,000.

Scotland is known for its numerous islands and they come at a fraction of the cost of those in England and Wales.

One such example is the Isle of Arran in Scotland’s west coast, with prices average at just £132,000. The Isle of Skye is the most expensive Scottish Island in the study, though typical prices still only stand at £210,000.

CEO of Yopa, Verona Frankish, commented:

“The idea of a warm desert island, with clear skies, clear seas and golden sand may seem like a far fetched dream, but you might be surprised to learn that private island purchases can be found in a range of locations and at a range of price thresholds. 

“Although private islands with warmer climates tend to come at a premium, you could buy your very own in Central America for less than your average property in London’s Kensington and Chelsea.

“But if you’re not ready to go the whole hog on a private island just yet, there’s a wealth of affordable options within reach of the British mainland that could give you the more laidback island lifestyle you’re searching for. The compromise is, of course, the weather.”

Data Tables

Discover more from

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.