Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Spain: $1,775 a month against $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $25,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,775
/mo nomad
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
$3,888
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Spain versus $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Spain $1,775
  • U.S. Virgin Islands $3,888

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,606 in Spain versus $6,705 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Spain $2,606
  • U.S. Virgin Islands $6,705

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in Spain versus $9,522 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • Spain $3,438
  • 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 $931–$2,610 in Spain. City choice carries more weight in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Living in Spain costs about 54% less than in the U.S. Virgin Islands on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Spain 30% above, the U.S. Virgin Islands 186% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69 €15.00
$24.67 $24.67
-32.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 €50.0
$147 $147
-62.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.37 €10.21
$12.19 $12.19
-6.73%
Cappuccino
$2.42 €2.17
$7.35 $7.35
-67.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 €2.41
$3.29 $3.29
-18.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 €1.61
$2.65 $2.65
-32.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.08
$6.86 $6.86
-50.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.48
$6.80 $6.80
-42.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 €1.08
$2.84 $2.84
-57.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 €1.33
$6.53 $6.53
-77.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 €1.50
$16.17 $16.17
-89.67%
Eggs
$3.42 €3.07
$8.69 $8.69
-60.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 €12.73
$23.69 $23.69
-40.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.33 €7.48
$25.22 $25.22
-66.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.20 €14.56
$31.69 $31.69
-48.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 €2.20
$13.54 $13.54
-81.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.83
$7.71 $7.71
-73.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.87
$11.58 $11.58
-82.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 €2.32
$13.65 $13.65
-81.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.64
$4.77 $4.77
-61.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.80
$7.61 $7.61
-73.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 €1.18
$5.62 $5.62
-76.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$4.69 $4.69
-83.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36 €5.72
$6.88 $6.88
-7.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.07
$23.33 $23.33
-75.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.17
$2.95 $2.95
-55.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.87
$6.46 $6.46
-67.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 €1.48
$6.04 $6.04
-72.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.91 €29.57
$104 $104
-68.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 €3.98
$20.39 $20.39
-78.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 €1.32
$3.06 $3.06
-51.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.98 €22.45
$50.1 $50.1
-50.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 €1.59
$1.34 $1.34
32.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K €31.9K
$50.6K $50.6K
-29.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K €27.5K
$53.8K $53.8K
-43.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 €134
$384 $384
-61.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67 €15.88
$89.3 $89.3
-80.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88 €28.64
$86.2 $86.2
-63.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.24 €39.75
$154 $154
-71.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29 €13.74
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.66 €8.68
$11.93 $11.93
-19.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 €489
$1,512 $1,512
-64.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,530
$16.5K $16.5K
-35.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 €76.3
$81.1 $81.1
4.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11 €33.35
$70.1 $70.1
-47.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 €80.1
$123 $123
-27.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €95.0
$124 $124
-14.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 €949
$1,679 $1,679
-37.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$808 €726
$1,518 $1,518
-46.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,456
$3,850 $3,850
-57.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,120
$4,171 $4,171
-70.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,135 €3,716
$10.3K $10.3K
-59.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,633 €2,365
$11.0K $11.0K
-76.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,999 €1,796
$3,885 $3,885
-48.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.3
7.72
-57.25%

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

Last update for Spain: October 24, 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
Spain
$808
U.S. Virgin Islands
$1.5K 87.9% $710
Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272
U.S. Virgin Islands
$896 230% $625
Eating Out
Spain
$239
U.S. Virgin Islands
$394 64.5% $154
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199
U.S. Virgin Islands
$560 182% $361
Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143
U.S. Virgin Islands
$179 25.7% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64
U.S. Virgin Islands
$177 179% $114
Getting Around
Spain
$51
U.S. Virgin Islands
$163 219% $112

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $920 in Spain, $1,916 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Capital cities: $1,508 in Madrid vs $1,247 in Charlotte Amalie.

National salary averages: $1,972 in Spain, $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 108% higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dining out costs 132% more in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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

Salaries are about 2.1 times higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Spain
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
🕒 Local time
10:26 10:26 AM
05:26 5:26 AM
5 h behind Spain
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
47,415,750
87,146
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Spain U.S. Virgin Islands 6,280 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Spain
  • 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
Spain vs U.S. Virgin Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Spain or the U.S. Virgin Islands?
At $1,775 per month in Spain and $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, there’s a 119% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Spain or the U.S. Virgin Islands?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Spain: 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.
How do rents compare between Spain and the U.S. Virgin Islands?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,916 in the U.S. Virgin Islands and $920 in Spain. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in Spain and in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
It depends on what you’re after: Spain 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.

Spain vs other spots: cost of living compared

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