The tri-island state of Grenada offers three very different places to live. The mainland has the capital, the airport, the hospitals and the supermarkets, along with mountains, rainforest and over a hundred thousand people. Carriacou, about an hour or two north by sea, is dry, low and slow, with a few thousand residents and one main town. Petite Martinique, a short boat ride beyond Carriacou, is a single volcanic hill with a close-knit population of fewer than a thousand.
People considering a move often fall for the quiet of the smaller islands on a holiday, then discover the practical realities of living there. Others settle on the busy south coast and wish they had chosen somewhere calmer. This guide sets out the main differences so that the choice can be made with open eyes.
The mainland: services, variety and the busy south
Most newcomers to Grenada live on the main island, and most of those settle in the south of St George, in areas within reach of St George's, Grand Anse, the airport and the main supermarkets. This is where the largest choice of housing, schools, medical services, restaurants and shops is found, along with St George's University and much of the tourism economy.
The mainland also offers variety. The east coast around Grenville and the north around Sauteurs are more rural and traditional, with lower property prices and a slower pace, but longer drives to services. The interior has cooler, wetter hill villages. The west coast, from Grand Mal to Gouyave and Victoria, combines fishing communities with views of the Caribbean Sea.
The downsides of the south are traffic, rising prices, noise and development. Rural areas offer more space and quiet but mean more driving, slower internet in some places and fewer neighbours who are newcomers. Distances are short on paper, but winding roads make a trip from the north to St George's take well over an hour.
Carriacou: dry, quiet and self-reliant
Carriacou is the largest of Grenada's Grenadines, a low, hilly island with a population of a few thousand. Hillsborough is the main town, with the main jetty, shops, banks, government offices and the market. Other communities include Windward, known for its boatbuilding tradition, L'Esterre, Harvey Vale near Tyrrel Bay, and Bogles.
Life is quiet and communal. Traffic is light, crime is low by most accounts, and the pace slows almost to a stop on Sundays. Strong traditions, including the Big Drum, boat launches, Regatta and Carnival, give the island a distinct identity. Many people living there are returning Carriacouans who spent years abroad.
Carriacou is much drier than the mainland. Water has long come from rainwater collected from roofs into cisterns, supplemented by public supply and desalination; serious water conservation is part of daily life. Many goods arrive by boat from the mainland, so prices are often higher and choice narrower. The Princess Royal Hospital provides general hospital care, but serious cases are transferred to the mainland, and services were disrupted after Hurricane Beryl, so check current capacity.
Petite Martinique: tiny, close-knit and seafaring
Petite Martinique is a single, steep volcanic island just off Carriacou's east coast, less than a tenth of Carriacou's size. Its few hundred residents live mainly along the western shore facing Carriacou, and the community has strong traditions of seafaring, boatbuilding and fishing. Families are interlinked, and newcomers are rare.
Life here is the quietest in the state. There are a few shops, a school, churches, a jetty and a health facility, but almost everything else, including hospital care, banking beyond the basics and most shopping, requires a boat trip to Carriacou or the mainland. Water and many supplies depend on deliveries and rainwater storage.
For the right person, perhaps someone with strong family connections, a love of the sea or work that can be done remotely with a reliable connection, Petite Martinique offers a rare sense of community and peace. For most newcomers, it is a place to visit rather than to live, at least until they know it well.
Practical comparison
Health care. The mainland has the main public hospital, the General Hospital in St George's, other district hospitals and private clinics. Carriacou has the Princess Royal Hospital and health centres; Petite Martinique has basic services. Serious emergencies on the smaller islands may require transfer by sea or air.
Transport. The mainland has the international airport and a route bus network. Carriacou is linked by ferry and small domestic flights; Petite Martinique by ferry or boat from Carriacou. Weather can interrupt sea crossings.
Shopping. Large supermarkets, hardware stores and specialist shops are on the mainland. The smaller islands have small shops and markets; many residents travel to the mainland for bulk shopping and specialised items.
Schools. The mainland offers the widest range, including private and international schools. Carriacou has primary and secondary schools; Petite Martinique has a primary school; families should check what secondary options are currently available there and on Carriacou.
Work. Most jobs are on the mainland. On the smaller islands, opportunities centre on fishing, boatbuilding, small business, government services and tourism.
Cost. Property may be cheaper on the smaller islands, but goods, building materials and transport often cost more because of shipping.
Storm exposure and the lessons of Beryl
All three islands lie in a region exposed to hurricanes, though historically Grenada was hit less often than islands further north. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 devastated the mainland, and Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 struck Carriacou and Petite Martinique with extreme force, damaging or destroying a large share of homes, buildings, utilities and vegetation.
Beryl highlighted particular vulnerabilities of the smaller islands: dependence on sea transport for supplies, limited medical capacity, and the difficulty of rebuilding when materials and workers must come from elsewhere. Recovery has continued since, but conditions, availability of rental housing and services may differ from older descriptions; check before you go.
Anyone considering a move to any of the three islands should think carefully about storm preparedness: building standards, roof construction, insurance, water storage, backup power and an evacuation plan. On the smaller islands, it is also worth considering how you would cope if transport links were cut for days or weeks.
Try before you commit
The most reliable way to choose is to live on an island for a while before buying or signing a long lease. A holiday in the dry season, with sunshine and full ferries, gives a very different picture from a month in the wet season or during hurricane season, when services slow and crossings are less predictable.
Renting for three to six months, ideally including part of the rainy season, lets you test the realities: how long a trip to the supermarket or the doctor really takes, what the internet is like at your chosen location, how noisy the neighbourhood is, and whether the quiet that felt restful on holiday becomes isolating.
Talk to people who live there: long-term residents, returning nationals and local families. Ask about water supply, power cuts, building costs, reliable tradespeople and how they coped after the most recent storm. Their answers will tell you more than any listing. For property purchases on any island, foreign buyers also need to understand the legal requirements, including the Alien Landholding Licence, and should take advice from a local lawyer.
Questions to answer before choosing
A short self-assessment helps match an island to a lifestyle. Honest answers to these questions narrow the choice quickly.
- How often will you need specialist medical care, and how far are you willing to travel for it?
- Do you need reliable, fast internet for work, and have you confirmed what is available at the specific location?
- How important are restaurants, shopping choice and social variety to you?
- Do you have children who need particular schooling?
- How do you feel about deep quiet, limited privacy and a small community where everyone knows your business?
- Can you manage water conservation and occasional supply interruptions?
- Have you spent time on the island in both the dry and wet seasons, not just on holiday?
- What is your plan for hurricane season?
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to live on Carriacou or Grenada mainland?
It depends on priorities. The mainland offers services, shopping, health care, schools and variety. Carriacou offers quiet, community and a slower pace, but with fewer services, higher prices for many goods and dependence on sea and air links. Spending time on both before deciding is wise.
How do people get between Grenada and Carriacou?
The main options are a passenger ferry from St George's and small domestic flights to Carriacou's airport at Lauriston. Petite Martinique is reached by ferry or boat from Carriacou. Schedules change, and sea crossings can be rough, so check current arrangements.
Is there a hospital on Carriacou?
Yes. Carriacou has the Princess Royal Hospital, which provides general hospital care, although Beryl damaged facilities in 2024. Serious or specialist cases are transferred to the mainland. Petite Martinique has basic health services only. Anyone with ongoing medical needs should plan carefully before moving to the smaller islands.
How did Hurricane Beryl affect Carriacou and Petite Martinique?
Beryl struck in July 2024 and caused severe damage on both islands, affecting a large share of homes, utilities, businesses and vegetation. Rebuilding has been ongoing. Conditions, housing availability and services may differ from older accounts, so check the current situation before planning a move.
Is Petite Martinique a good place for newcomers to live?
Petite Martinique is very small, tightly knit and quiet, with few services. It suits people with family connections, strong self-reliance or remote work and a love of the sea. Most newcomers find it better to visit first and get to know the community well.
