Cost of Living Comparison Between Road Town and Tortola Cost of Living Comparison Between Road Town and Tortola

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,601 in Road Town versus $2,451 in Tortola.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,432 in Road Town versus $4,202 in Tortola.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,263 in Road Town versus $5,954 in Tortola.

Living in Road Town is roughly 6% more expensive than in Tortola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Road Town 89% above, Tortola 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.48 $17.48

$21.42 $21.42

-18.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$83.4 $83.4

-2.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 $7.85

$15.11 $15.11

-48.05%

Cappuccino

$4.52 $4.52

$7.84 $7.84

-42.35%

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

$1.67 $1.67

$1.81 $1.81

-7.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.35 $1.35

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.92 $3.92

4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$5.13 $5.13

-65.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 $2.32

$3.02 $3.02

-23.18%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.60 $4.60

-3.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$6.79 $6.79

-57.14%

Eggs

$4.97 $4.97

$7.36 $7.36

-32.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 $13.19

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.67 $19.67

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.96 $1.96

81.12%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 $3.23

$4.02 $4.02

-19.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.97 $1.97

4.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.53 $6.53

$7.33 $7.33

-10.91%

Potato (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$5.84 $5.84

-17.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$5.07 $5.07

-24.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.51 $6.51

$11.82 $11.82

-44.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.06 $5.06

0.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.14 $11.14

$10.94 $10.94

1.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 $4.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

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

$160 $160

$100 $100

60.19%

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

$80.1 $80.1

$101 $101

-21.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$126 $126

$99.8 $99.8

26.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.73 $19.73

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 $9.92

$20.17 $20.17

-50.82%

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

$375 $375

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K $10.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 $46.73

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.6 $55.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 $129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$140 $140

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,647 $1,647

$1,407 $1,407

17.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$1,251 $1,251

8.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,345 $4,345

$3,322 $3,322

30.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,673 $3,673

$3,113 $3,113

17.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.9K $10.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,719 $1,719

$1,597 $1,597

7.60%

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

Last update for Road Town: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tortola: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,647 in Road Town and $1,407 in Tortola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Road Town pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Road Town vs $83.0 in Tortola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $492 per month, with Road Town cheaper across the board.

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

Road Town vs Tortola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tortola is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Road Town, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,647 in Road Town versus $1,407 in Tortola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Road Town pay roughly 82% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Tortola – a meal for two runs $83.0 versus $81.0 in Road Town. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,451 in Tortola versus $2,601 in Road Town, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Tortola but tight or insufficient in Road Town. The gap between the two cities makes Tortola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Road Town and Tortola are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tortola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Road Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.