Last update: Oct 2026

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

Name: U.S. Virgin Islands
Address: VI

For one person, living is cheaper in the United States: $2,734 a month against $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
188

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

U.S. Virgin Islands Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

$3,888

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,734 per month in the United States vs $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent included.

United States $2,734
U.S. Virgin Islands $3,888

A couple spends around $3,985 per month in the United States vs $6,705 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent included.

United States $3,985
U.S. Virgin Islands $6,705

A family of three spends $5,235 per month in the United States vs $9,522 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent included.

United States $5,235
U.S. Virgin Islands $9,522

The regional cost range is wider in the U.S. Virgin Islands ($322–$6,072) than in the United States ($979–$5,160), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in the United States is roughly 30% lower than in the U.S. Virgin Islands on average.

Both the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands are pricier than the global median – the United States by 101%, the U.S. Virgin Islands by 186%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$24.67 $24.67

-18.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$147 $147

-45.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.19 $12.19

-3.20%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$7.35 $7.35

-24.49%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$3.29 $3.29

-19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.65 $2.65

-18.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$6.86 $6.86

-10.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.80 $6.80

16.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.84 $2.84

-63.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$6.53 $6.53

-45.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$16.17 $16.17

-72.05%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$8.69 $8.69

-50.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$23.69 $23.69

-44.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$25.22 $25.22

-50.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$31.69 $31.69

-44.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$13.54 $13.54

-60.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$7.71 $7.71

-78.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$11.58 $11.58

-61.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$13.65 $13.65

-65.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.77 $4.77

-37.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$7.61 $7.61

-58.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$5.62 $5.62

-60.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$4.69 $4.69

-49.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$6.88 $6.88

59.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$23.33 $23.33

-35.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.95 $2.95

-30.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$6.46 $6.46

-41.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$6.04 $6.04

-67.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$104 $104

-42.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$20.39 $20.39

-82.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$3.06 $3.06

-38.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$50.1 $50.1

-40.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.34 $1.34

-23.88%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$50.6K $50.6K

-43.16%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$53.8K $53.8K

-51.30%

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

$218 $218

$384 $384

-43.31%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$89.3 $89.3

-30.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$86.2 $86.2

-13.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$154 $154

-72.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$11.93 $11.93

23.22%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$1,512 $1,512

-1.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$16.5K $16.5K

53.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$81.1 $81.1

-32.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$70.1 $70.1

-39.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$123 $123

-23.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$124 $124

-8.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$1,679 $1,679

-1.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$1,518 $1,518

-11.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$3,850 $3,850

-30.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$4,171 $4,171

-48.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$10.3K $10.3K

-68.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$11.0K $11.0K

-77.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$3,885 $3,885

10.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

7.72

-15.16%

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

Last update for the United States: 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

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$1.5K 39.1% 12.7% $171

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$896 23.1% 116% $481

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$560 14.4% 57.8% $205

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$394 10.1% 20.1% $66

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$179 4.6% 30.7% $42

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$163 4.2% 104% $83

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

U.S. Virgin Islands

$177 4.6% 149% $106

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,620 in the United States vs $1,916 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,768 in Washington, DC and $1,247 in Charlotte Amalie.

Average salary: $4,549 in the United States vs $4,193 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 18% higher in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dining out costs 76% more in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Public transport is 65% more expensive in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

🕒 Local time

06:10 6:10 AM

07:10 7:10 AM

1 h ahead of the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

87,146

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

United States U.S. Virgin Islands 2,900 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

United States
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

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

The United States is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 30% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the U.S. Virgin Islands: a central one-bedroom averages $1,916 versus $1,620 in the United States.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in the United States – part of why living there is about 30% cheaper overall.

The United States is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.