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.
How much you'll spend in the U.S. Virgin Islands and in Mexico
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the U.S. Virgin Islands and in Mexico actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,888 in the U.S. Virgin Islands versus $1,274 in Mexico.
U.S. Virgin Islands $3,888
Mexico $1,274
Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,705 in the U.S. Virgin Islands versus $2,010 in Mexico.
U.S. Virgin Islands $6,705
Mexico $2,010
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,522 in the U.S. Virgin Islands versus $2,746 in Mexico.
U.S. Virgin Islands $9,522
Mexico $2,746
📏
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 the U.S. Virgin Islands is roughly 205% more expensive than in Mexico on average.
📊
The U.S. Virgin Islands (186% above) and Mexico (6% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.67$24.67
$10.63MX$200
132.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147$147
$43.29MX$813
239.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.19$12.19
$8.94MX$168
36.35%
Cappuccino
$7.35$7.35
$3.61MX$67.7
103.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29$3.29
$1.48MX$27.70
122.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65$2.65
$1.00MX$18.77
165.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.86$6.86
$2.67MX$50.0
156.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80$6.80
$4.37MX$82.0
55.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.84$2.84
$1.59MX$29.76
78.62%
White Bread(500g)
$6.53$6.53
$2.67MX$50.2
144.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$16.17$16.17
$1.68MX$31.57
862.50%
Eggs
$8.69$8.69
$2.52MX$47.38
244.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.69$23.69
$8.79MX$165
169.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$25.22$25.22
$7.97MX$150
216.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.69$31.69
$11.50MX$216
175.57%
Apples(1kg)
$13.54$13.54
$2.76MX$51.7
390.58%
Banana(1kg)
$7.71$7.71
$1.52MX$28.61
407.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$11.58$11.58
$1.95MX$36.70
493.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$13.65$13.65
$1.97MX$36.93
592.89%
Potato(1kg)
$4.77$4.77
$1.96MX$36.84
143.37%
Onion(1kg)
$7.61$7.61
$2.03MX$38.08
274.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.62$5.62
$1.43MX$26.90
293.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$4.69$4.69
$1.14MX$21.39
311.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88$6.88
$4.52MX$84.9
52.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.33$23.33
$10.87MX$204
114.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$1.77MX$33.14
66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.46$6.46
$3.19MX$59.9
102.51%
🚌 Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.04$6.04
$0.62MX$11.64
874.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$104$104
$29.85MX$560
246.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$20.39$20.39
$2.66MX$49.97
666.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.06$3.06
$2.72MX$51.0
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.1$50.1
$10.63MX$200
370.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34$1.34
$1.40MX$26.24
-4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.6K$50.6K
$24.0KMX$450.0K
111.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.8K$53.8K
$23.9KMX$449.0K
124.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$384$384
$69.2MX$1,299
455.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$89.3$89.3
$23.51MX$441
279.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.2$86.2
$29.00MX$544
197.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$154$154
$34.74MX$652
342.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.46MX$328
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.93$11.93
$5.24MX$98.5
127.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,512$1,512
$261MX$4,892
480.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K$16.5K
$5,999MX$112.6K
174.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.1$81.1
$55.8MX$1,048
45.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.1$70.1
$41.58MX$781
68.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123$123
$96.3MX$1,809
27.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124$124
$90.1MX$1,691
37.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,679$1,679
$713MX$13.4K
135.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,518$1,518
$477MX$8,954
218.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,850$3,850
$1,358MX$25.5K
183.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,171$4,171
$906MX$17.0K
360.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.3K$10.3K
$2,597MX$48.7K
295.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.0K$11.0K
$1,565MX$29.4K
601.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,885$3,885
$773MX$14.5K
402.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.72
11.43
-32.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the U.S. Virgin Islands: October 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico: October 25, 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
U.S. Virgin Islands
$1.5K 39.1%
Mexico
$477 37.4% ↓ 68.6%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands
$896 23.1%
Mexico
$267 21% ↓ 70.2%$629
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands
$560 14.4%
Mexico
$122 9.6% ↓ 78.3%$438
🍽Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands
$394 10.1%
Mexico
$187 14.7% ↓ 52.5%$207
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands
$179 4.6%
Mexico
$128 10% ↓ 28.7%$52
🎉Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands
$177 4.6%
Mexico
$45 3.6% ↓ 74.5%$132
🚌Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands
$163 4.2%
Mexico
$49 3.8% ↓ 70.3%$115
🏠Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands
$4.2K 43.8%
Mexico
$906 33% ↓ 78.3%$3.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands
$2.1K 21.8%
Mexico
$612 22.3% ↓ 70.5%$1.5K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands
$649 6.8%
Mexico
$145 5.3% ↓ 77.6%$504
🍽Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands
$1.5K 16.1%
Mexico
$593 21.6% ↓ 61.3%$941
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands
$398 4.2%
Mexico
$284 10.3% ↓ 28.7%$114
🎉Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands
$355 * 3.7%
Mexico
$108 3.9% ↓ 69.6%$247
🚌Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands
$339 3.6%
Mexico
$98 3.6% ↓ 71%$241
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,916 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, $624 in Mexico. Capital cities: $1,247 in Charlotte Amalie vs $1,113 in Mexico City.
💰National salary averages: $4,193 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, $722 in Mexico. 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.
U.S. Virgin Islands→Mexico3,590 km≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
U.S. Virgin Islands
Mexico
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
U.S. Virgin Islands vs Mexico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands?
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.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
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.
Should I move to Mexico or to the U.S. Virgin Islands?
It depends on what you’re after: Mexico wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.
U.S. Virgin Islands vs other spots: cost of living compared