If you are shopping for an apartment in Manhattan, you need to be prepared to shell out $2 million. But if you are looking for something a little more exclusive, there are private islands that you can buy for less.
In fact, a CNBC report identifies several private islands that would cost a fraction of the asking price of a Manhattan pad.
For just $373,000, you could buy Motu Pakirikiri, an island in French Polynesia. A 3.6-acre island, it is situated near the Tahiti International Airport and currently is uninhabited. The private island is located in the Tuamotu’s, Manihi, and is bounded to the Northwest by a lagoon and on the southeastern side by the South Pacific.
Put up $380,000 and you could call Isla Paloma home. No, it’s not the island from Jurassic Park, but this 1-acre tropical Central American island features a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, boat house and workshop. According to Private Islands Online, it is a “turn-key” property. Isla Paloma is situated in calm waters between Almirante Bay and Chiriqui Lagoon. It is surrounded by barrier islands
If you want to stay in the U.S., for $650,000 you could purchase Namaste Island in Michigan. The 7.5-acre island features a rustic cabin and sandy beaches. Some 900 feet from shore, it is just far enough away from the mainland to provide privacy and seclusion without being remote.
There also are domestic options in the south. Bachelor Island in North Carolina could be yours for $650,000, 31 percent the cost of your typical Manhattan apartment. It offers four acres of sandy beaches. It is located on the Core Sound off the coast of North Carolina. Three cabins are located on the island. The island features an easy access dock with boat lift and updated bulkhead.
Cordwood Island in the St. Lawrence River in Ontario offers a lovely estate for just $685,000. The one-acre island is located between Gananoque and Brockville, Ontario in the Thousand Islands region. The purchase price also includes a mainland lot near the Thousand Islands Parkway. A main cottage offers comfort and outstanding views. The very private island guesthouse, with a wonderful open view up the river, is built over the water and surrounded by decking.
As a bonus listing, CNBC noted that for $289,000, you could get Little Harvest Caye in Belize. The 1.5-acre island is located off the Placencia Peninsula in Southern Belize.
