Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Name: U.S. Virgin Islands
Address: VI

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico: $1,274 a month against $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $31,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

61

Cost of Living Index in Mexico
Learn more

Mexico Living Index
188

Cost of Living Index in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Learn more

U.S. Virgin Islands Living Index

Jump to prices

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,274

/mo nomad

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

$3,888

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico 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 Mexico and in the U.S. Virgin Islands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,274 in Mexico versus $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mexico $1,274
U.S. Virgin Islands $3,888

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,010 in Mexico versus $6,705 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mexico $2,010
U.S. Virgin Islands $6,705

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,746 in Mexico versus $9,522 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mexico $2,746
U.S. Virgin Islands $9,522

Internal cost variation is higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands: monthly costs span $322 to $6,072, compared to $730–$2,625 in Mexico. City choice carries more weight in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Living in Mexico costs about 67% less than in the U.S. Virgin Islands on average.

Mexico (6% below) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (186% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.63 MX$200

$24.67 $24.67

-56.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.29 MX$813

$147 $147

-70.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 MX$168

$12.19 $12.19

-26.66%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$67.7

$7.35 $7.35

-50.88%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 MX$27.70

$3.29 $3.29

-55.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 MX$18.77

$2.65 $2.65

-62.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 MX$50.0

$6.86 $6.86

-61.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$82.0

$6.80 $6.80

-35.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 MX$29.76

$2.84 $2.84

-44.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 MX$50.2

$6.53 $6.53

-59.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MX$31.57

$16.17 $16.17

-89.61%

Eggs

$2.52 MX$47.38

$8.69 $8.69

-71.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.79 MX$165

$23.69 $23.69

-62.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 MX$150

$25.22 $25.22

-68.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 MX$216

$31.69 $31.69

-63.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MX$51.7

$13.54 $13.54

-79.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MX$28.61

$7.71 $7.71

-80.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 MX$36.70

$11.58 $11.58

-83.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$36.93

$13.65 $13.65

-85.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 MX$36.84

$4.77 $4.77

-58.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 MX$38.08

$7.61 $7.61

-73.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 MX$26.90

$5.62 $5.62

-74.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 MX$21.39

$4.69 $4.69

-75.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 MX$84.9

$6.88 $6.88

-34.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.87 MX$204

$23.33 $23.33

-53.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 MX$33.14

$2.95 $2.95

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 MX$59.9

$6.46 $6.46

-50.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 MX$11.64

$6.04 $6.04

-89.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.85 MX$560

$104 $104

-71.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 MX$49.97

$20.39 $20.39

-86.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.72 MX$51.0

$3.06 $3.06

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.63 MX$200

$50.1 $50.1

-78.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$26.24

$1.34 $1.34

4.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.0K MX$450.0K

$50.6K $50.6K

-52.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.9K MX$449.0K

$53.8K $53.8K

-55.55%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.2 MX$1,299

$384 $384

-82.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.51 MX$441

$89.3 $89.3

-73.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.00 MX$544

$86.2 $86.2

-66.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.74 MX$652

$154 $154

-77.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.46 MX$328

Cinema Ticket

$5.24 MX$98.5

$11.93 $11.93

-56.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$261 MX$4,892

$1,512 $1,512

-82.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,999 MX$112.6K

$16.5K $16.5K

-63.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 MX$1,048

$81.1 $81.1

-31.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.58 MX$781

$70.1 $70.1

-40.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 MX$1,809

$123 $123

-21.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.1 MX$1,691

$124 $124

-27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$713 MX$13.4K

$1,679 $1,679

-57.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,954

$1,518 $1,518

-68.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,358 MX$25.5K

$3,850 $3,850

-64.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$906 MX$17.0K

$4,171 $4,171

-78.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,597 MX$48.7K

$10.3K $10.3K

-74.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,565 MX$29.4K

$11.0K $11.0K

-85.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$14.5K

$3,885 $3,885

-80.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.43

7.72

48.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico: October 25, 2026

Last update for the U.S. Virgin Islands: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mexico

$477 37.4%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$1.5K 39.1% 218% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Mexico

$267 21%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$896 23.1% 236% $629

Eating Out

Mexico

$187 14.7%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$394 10.1% 110% $207

Clothing & Footwear

Mexico

$128 10%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$179 4.6% 40.3% $52

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mexico

$122 9.6%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$560 14.4% 360% $438

Getting Around

Mexico

$49 3.8%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$163 4.2% 237% $115

Sport & Entertainment

Mexico

$45 3.6%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$177 4.6% 292% $132

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $624 in Mexico, $1,916 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Capital cities: $1,113 in Mexico City vs $1,247 in Charlotte Amalie.

National salary averages: $722 in Mexico, $4,193 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 207% higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dining out costs 207% more in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Public transport is 235% more expensive in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Salaries are about 5.8 times higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Good to know

🇲🇽 Mexico

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

🕒 Local time

20:35 8:35 PM

22:35 10:35 PM

2 h ahead of Mexico

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

124,777,324

87,146

💱 Currency

Mexican Peso MXN $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MXN = 5.33 USD

100 MXN = 4.77 EUR

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇽 Mexican Peso ($)

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

USD to MXN in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Mexico U.S. Virgin Islands 3,590 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Mexico
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

Mexico vs U.S. Virgin Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,274 per month in Mexico and $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico comes out about 67% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in Mexico: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,916 in the U.S. Virgin Islands and $624 in Mexico. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: Mexico wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.