Cheap Private Islands

Water Worlds

Owning a private island has practically become commonplace among the world's richest citizens (Think Richard Branson's Necker Island and Johnny Depp's Little Hall's Pond Cay.) But you don't have to be a billionaire to afford your own private island escape. There are a few websites that list islands for sale, such as Private Islands Inc. and Vladi Private Islands, and if you search carefully, you may find listings well below the $1 million mark.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

Half Island | Canada

Location: Nova Scotia
Asking price: $87,000

Located in an area known for its natural beauty, and its fishing and wildlife, Half Island is less than a mile from the mainland, which means that getting to this 6-acre private retreat is fairly easy. The price includes an Airstream camper shell (that comes "as is"). Activities here include boating, canoeing, sailing, and fishing, as well as exploring Inhabitants Bay and its many coves.

Related: Best Road Trips in Canada

Bone Fish Caye | Belize

Location: 1.5 miles north of San Pedro
Asking price: $69,500

This quarter-acre island still offers plenty of space for a home or small eco-lodge. Enjoy fly fishing on the lagoon side, or try bird watching — native and migratory birds including heron, egret, spoonbill, and osprey, are likely to drop by.

La Cornelia Island | Nicaragua

Location: Lake Nicaragua
Asking price: $90,000

Part of Las Isletas de Granada, this 1-acre island of palm and mango trees is undeveloped but has been connected to electricity. For less than $90,000, you could have money left over to build a home.

Naomi Island | United States

Location: Hudson River, New York
Asking price: $99,000

A wooded island with some clear areas, this retreat is halfway between New York City and Albany. It can be reached easily by boat from the mainland, just about 150 feet away. While there are some existing camp facilities on the island, they would need to be replaced.

Related: A Virtual Weekend in New York

Crehan Island | Great Britain

Location: Northern Ireland
Asking price: 85,000 to 90,000 GBP (about $106,318)

Your chance to own an idyllic getaway in Ireland,. Crehan Island is a 6-acre retreat described as a nature lover's paradise, particularly for bird watchers. The island features mature oaks, scotch pine, and beech trees. The purchase price includes a wooden cabin that can be used for storage or camping. A private wooden jetty can accommodate smaller boats or a larger motor cruiser. The island is not far from Derryad and Geaglum quays. The busy market town of Lisnaskea, where there are schools, churches, a medical clinic, and a variety of shops and pubs, is within a 15-minute drive.

Gillis Island | Canada

Location: Prince Edward Island

Asking price: $110,000

This 11-acre private island has remained mostly untouched since the surrounding community of Eldon was settled in 1750, so you will be snapping up an undeveloped wilderness. You can kayak to the island in less than 10 minutes, and the nearest town, Charlottetown, is a half-hour away. The island is ideal as a camping base for canoeing or kayaking trips.

Salonpää | Finland

Location: Northern Konnevesi Lake
Asking price: 99,600 euro (About $111,731)

Finland, with its high marks for quality of living, isn't a bad place to own a private retreat. Salonpää, on a lake about 62 miles from the city of Jyvaskyla, has a cottage with a large terrace, living room, sleeping alcove and a sauna as well as a woodshed and an old smoke sauna. The shores around the island are partly sandy.

Tierra Obscura Island Pair | Panama

Location: Bocas del Toro
Asking price: $120,000

Two private islands for less than the cost of many houses in the United States. (As you might guess, the combined size of the islands is just 0.30 of an acre.) The land is undeveloped, but there is a dock to snorkel from. And while you'll share the island with howler monkeys, civilization — and restaurants — is just a 30-minute boat ride away.

No Man's Island | United States

Location: Wildwood, New Jersey
Asking Price: $125,000

This 19-acre island is just minutes away from the Doo-Wop Capital of the World (Wildwood), but also just 3 or less feet above water — a concern with rising waters due to climate change. The island can be raised with the proper building permits, perhaps paid for with its low taxes of less than $360 a year.

Mannions Island | Ireland

Location: Dunmanus Bay, West Cork
Asking price: $290,074

If tropical temperatures aren't a requirement, this 4-acre retreat in Ireland provides a budget-friendly option. The island is within 200 meters of the land on picturesque Dunmanus Bay in West Cork and just a few minutes from Durrus Village. Be prepared to do some work: There's no existing house — or any other type of structure. The island is for sale as is.

Related: Free Things to Do in Ireland

Greer Island | United States

Location: Penobscot Bay, Maine
Asking price: $395,000

This 5-acre island offers views of the open bay to one side and a protected cove on the other. There are also meadows to explore and stands of spruce and balsam, as well as wild strawberries and roses. This picture-postcard Maine getaway is connected to Vinalhaven Island by a sandbar during low tides. A small building on the island could be restored to provide studio or guest space, and zoning allows for the construction of an additional 600-square-foot structure.

Hat Caye | Belize

Location: Southwest of Long Caye
Asking price: $450,000

This 0.7-acre island is within the calm waters of Lighthouse Reef Atoll — one of only four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. It's also home to two United Nations World Heritage Sites: the Great Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye National Park. The atoll is known for its scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, sport fishing and bird-watching, among many other activities. Hat Caye comes with a few fishing shacks that include a kitchen and sleeping areas. There's a pier with a 6- to 7-foot draft.

Isla Carabana Sol | Panama

Location: Dolphin Bay near Bocas Del Toro
Asking price: $403,00

This one-third of an acre is plenty for a tropical getaway. Located in Dolphin Bay, Isla Carabana Sol includes a two-story house with covered verandas and two self-contained apartments, a raised deck with a recently built hot tub, and barbecue grill. The island's landscaping includes plumeria, gardenias, young coconut trees, pineapple plants, a papaya tree, and an avocado tree. A small sand beach and private swimming lagoon with clear water is behind the house, complete with a tiki hut. You'll be sharing the Isla Carabana Sol with green parrots and howler monkeys.

Golding Cay | Bahamas

Location: North of Royal Island
Asking price: $700,000

Dubbed the best-priced private island in the Bahamas, Golding Cay is just 10 minutes by boat from the picturesque fishing village of Spanish Wells, making for easy access for supply runs and maintenance needs, not to mention the ability to dine out when you grow bored of solitary island life. (It's even near North Eleuthera International Airport.) There are pretty beaches on this private getaway, and some coconut trees, and the waters surrounding Golding Cay offer great diving reefs.