For one person, living is cheaper in Italy: $1,825 a month against $3,934 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $25,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Italy and in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Italy and in the U.S. Virgin Islands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,825 in Italy versus $3,934 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Italy $1,825
U.S. Virgin Islands $3,934
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,790 in Italy versus $6,730 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Italy $2,790
U.S. Virgin Islands $6,730
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,756 in Italy versus $9,525 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Italy $3,756
U.S. Virgin Islands $9,525
🌍
Living in Italy costs about 54% less than in the U.S. Virgin Islands on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Italy 35% above, the U.S. Virgin Islands 190% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.90€17.70
$24.80$24.80
-19.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1€68.6
$146$146
-47.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41€10.15
$12.11$12.11
-5.78%
Cappuccino
$2.01€1.78
$7.15$7.15
-71.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.78
$3.29$3.29
-4.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.24
$2.54$2.54
-44.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€5.12
$6.88$6.88
-16.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73€5.10
$6.87$6.87
-16.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62€1.44
$2.69$2.69
-39.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38€2.12
$6.84$6.84
-65.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.60
$16.55$16.55
-82.36%
Eggs
$4.17€3.70
$8.31$8.31
-49.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.28€15.37
$24.33$24.33
-28.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.73€11.32
$25.20$25.20
-49.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.39€18.13
$31.43$31.43
-35.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.32
$13.58$13.58
-80.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.88
$7.37$7.37
-71.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63€2.34
$11.50$11.50
-77.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34€2.97
$13.79$13.79
-75.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.79
$4.84$4.84
-58.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.69
$7.74$7.74
-75.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56€1.39
$5.76$5.76
-72.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.49
$4.78$4.78
-88.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€6.08
$7.06$7.06
-3.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.64€6.80
$23.45$23.45
-67.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.61
$2.96$2.96
-39.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.14
$6.51$6.51
-63.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.86€1.65
$5.83$5.83
-68.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.27€38.49
$104$104
-58.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€5.01
$19.97$19.97
-71.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.52
$3.18$3.18
-46.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.04€29.39
$50.5$50.5
-34.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.87
$1.41$1.41
49.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K€31.8K
$49.1K$49.1K
-27.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K€33.3K
$54.1K$54.1K
-30.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230€204
$388$388
-40.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60€10.32
$91.4$91.4
-87.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.40€27.04
$88.2$88.2
-65.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9€47.96
$152$152
-64.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.24€21.56
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.58€9.41
$12.22$12.22
-13.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$545€485
$1,522$1,522
-64.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€10.3K
$16.1K$16.1K
-28.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4€78.7
$82.0$82.0
7.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60€35.22
$70.5$70.5
-43.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€89.8
$125$125
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€118
$123$123
7.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$799€711
$1,664$1,664
-51.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624€555
$1,554$1,554
-59.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,423€1,266
$3,835$3,835
-62.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030€916
$4,167$4,167
-75.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,601€3,203
$10.3K$10.3K
-65.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,270€2,019
$10.8K$10.8K
-78.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,893€1,684
$3,891$3,891
-51.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
7.72
-53.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: October 18, 2026
Last update for the U.S. Virgin Islands: October 17, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$624 34.2%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$1.6K 39.5% ↑ 149%$930
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$350 19.2%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$900 22.9% ↑ 157%$550
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$276 15.1%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$392 10% ↑ 42.1%$116
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$272 14.9%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$568 14.4% ↑ 109%$296
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$163 8.9%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$180 4.6% ↑ 10.7%$17
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$75 4.1%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$176 4.5% ↑ 135%$101
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.6%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$163 4.2% ↑ 152%$98
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1K 27.4%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$4.2K 43.7% ↑ 305%$3.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$828 22.1%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$2.1K 21.8% ↑ 151%$1.3K
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$945 25.2%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$1.5K 16% ↑ 61.7%$583
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$283 7.5%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$659 6.9% ↑ 133%$376
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$362 9.6%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$401 4.2% ↑ 10.7%$39
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$174 4.6%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$352 * 3.7% ↑ 102%$178
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$134 3.6%
U.S. Virgin Islands
$338 3.6% ↑ 154%$205
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $724 in Italy, $1,493 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Capital cities: $1,191 in Rome vs $1,264 in Charlotte Amalie.
💰National salary averages: $1,892 in Italy, $4,263 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 106% higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
⭐Dining out costs 62% more in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
⭐Public transport is 78% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are 125% higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Italy→U.S. Virgin Islands7,630 km≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
Italy
U.S. Virgin Islands
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Italy vs U.S. Virgin Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and the U.S. Virgin Islands?
At $1,825 per month in Italy and $3,934 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, there's a 116% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,493 in the U.S. Virgin Islands and $724 in Italy. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Italy or in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
In Italy, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in the U.S. Virgin Islands it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or to the U.S. Virgin Islands?
It depends on what you're after: Italy wins on affordability; the U.S. Virgin Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.