The BVI or the British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. The BVI consists of four major islands namely Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke and 32 small islands and islets of which 12 are inhabited. These 36 islands and islets cover a territory of a mere 21 square miles. The subtropical climate, crystal clear water, pristine beaches and coral reefs attract tourists from around the globe
If you are considering moving to the British Virgin Islands, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this part of the. world
Quick British Virgin Islands Facts:
- Population: 30, 714 (2022 estimate)
- Official Language:English is the official language of BVI. However, people also speak other local languages including Spanish, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic immigrants’ languages.
- GDP Per Capita:49,357 USD (2021 UN data)
- Pirates: Every pirate in the Caribbean hid out in the Virgin Islands at one time or another. Norman Island is thought to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
- Currency: US Dollar (USD/$). As of 2022, 1 USD is = £0.86, €1, $1.36 (CAD), and $1.56 (AUD).
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to British Virgin Islands
Here are some sample international container shipping costs to the British Virgin Islands from other countries around the world.
2. British Virgin Islands Housing Costs
The British Virgin Islands is the playground of the rich which is reflected in the types of property available and the asking prices. There are apartments available, particularly around harbour areas and great beaches. There’s also a selection of houses and upmarket villas and plots of land for building your dream home.
Monthly Rental Prices in the British Virgin Islands
- 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: $1,500.00 – $2,500.00
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: $1,000.00 – $1,800.00
- 3-bedroom apartment in City Centre: $3,000.00 – $5,000.00
- 3-bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: $3,000.00 – $4,000.00
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: $3,229.17
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: 2,690.98
Source: Numbeo
British Virgin Islands Housing Cost Comparison
United Kingdom is 49.70% cheaper
United States is 19.46% cheaper
Canada is 42.81% cheaper
Australia is 42.19% cheaper
France is 59.19% cheaper
Spain is 65.09% cheaper
Italy is 66.85% cheaper
Germany is 57.82% cheaper
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share an apartment or house. Living with a room or flatmate is one of the best options to save on housing costs in BVI. Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect room or flatmate: Iroommate, Roommate to Share, Flat Sharing and Condo in Road Town.
- Different areas – different prices. Everywhere in the British Virgin Islands is expensive to live but there are more affordable neighbourhoods on Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Scrub Island, Jost Van Dyke, Great Camanoe, and Anegada.
3. British Virgin Islands Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
The British Virgin Islands has some fantastic restaurants serving both local and international dishes. What could be better than sitting at a beach front restaurant waiting for Richard Branson to sit at the next table. Street food is also very popular and of a high standard. The supermarkets stock an extensive range of foods, including an impressive range of fresh produce.
- Inexpensive Restaurant- $12.00 – $35.00
- Domestic beer: $4.00 – $7.00
- Coke/Pepsi: $2.00 – $3.00
- 1L of milk: $0.96 – $2.20
- Loaf of Bread: $1.65 – $5.79
- 12 Eggs: $1.00 – $2.60
- 1kg Chicken Fillets: $4.37 – $10.00
- 1kg Beef: $11.57 – $22.05
- 1kg Apples: $1.87 – $4.50
- 1kg White Rice: $4.41 – $6.00
Source: Numbeo
Below are how restaurants and food prices compare with other countries.
- UK restaurants are 97% cheaper than BVI.
- United State restaurants are 17% cheaper than BVI.
- Canada restaurants are 29% cheaper than BVI.
- Australia restaurants are 32% cheaper than BVI.
- France restaurants are 87% cheaper than BVI.
- Spain restaurants are 42% cheaper than BVI.
- Italy restaurants are 58% cheaper than BVI.
- Germanyrestaurants are 36% cheaper than BVI.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: British Virgin Islands has many supermarkets and independently owned stores. Have a look at the following websites for ideas on where to find bargains – Best of BVI, BVI Newbe, Street Market in Tortola, RocApplyand VacationBVI.
- Find Cheap Eats: Ask around or see where the locals eat. Visit the following websites for suggestions – YELP, Wanderlog, Trip Advisor, Trek Caribbean, and Nomadic Matt.
4. British Virgin Islands Alcohol Costs
Social drinking is high on the list of relaxing pastimes in the BVI. The selection of imported beers, wines and spirits is excellent, both in the supermarkets and in restaurants.
- Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: $9.00– $12.50
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $4.00 – $7.00
- Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: $2.14 – $5.50
- Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: $1.50 – $2.00
- Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: $7.00 – $23.00
Source: Numbeo
How to drink for less in the British Virgin Islands
- Ask local residents for their advice on where to drink for less and keep an eye out for advertisements on flyers or in newspapers. You can also scour the internet for tips.
- Most restaurants and bars in BVI have early evening happy hours, usually from 5pm until 7pm. Have a look at the following sites for more tips on where to go to save money on a night out – Trip Advisor, Late Sail, BVI Newbie and com.
5. British Virgin Islands Transportation Fares
The British Virgin Islands are so small that you can walk round most of them with ease. There and buses on the larger islands but getting around by boat and water taxi is definitely the best option. There are a small number of taxis on the larger islands but they’re expensive.
Below are some example ticket costs.
- One-way ticket (Local transport-$3.00 – $10.00
- Monthly Pass, (Regular Price) – $150.00 – $300.00
- Taxi start (normal tariff) – $5.00
- Taxi 1km (normal tariff) – $1.00
Source: Numbeo
How to save money on public transport
- Ferries are the best and most affordable options for travelling in BVI
- Bus travel is also affordable
- Cycling around the islands has become very popular
6. Cost of Internet in the British Virgin Islands
Wi-fi is available on the British Virgin Islands, with dozens of hot spots dotted around the islands. Bars and restaurants usually have wi-fi which can be used by customers. Over three quarters of the population has internet access even though it’s expensive and not particularly fast.
- Starlink SapceX– $99/Mo for 10 Mbit/s
- C-Band– $120/Mo for 512 Kbit/s
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
The BVI’s tropical climate attracts visitors from all over the world. With only three degrees difference in the average summer and winter temperature, you’ll never need a jacket. The average rainfall is 1,150 mm per annum, with a marginally higher rainfall on higher ground than the coast.
Below are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or similar): $80.00 – $90.00
- Summer Dress: $45.00 – $120.00
- Running Shoes (Trainers): $90.00 – $180.00
- Business Shoes: $110.00 – $160.00
- Gym membership: $80.00 – $200.00
- Movie (cinema) ticket: $10.00 – $16.00
- Short Doctor’s visit (15 mins): $123
- Deodorant: $4.78
- Shampoo: $5.74
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): $4.45
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in British Virgin Islands
Driving on BVI roads can be entertaining. You can round a corner to find a cow in the middle of the road or a bus full of tourists. Speed bumps are everywhere but you’ll rarely see a warning sign. Locals often block the road with their cars while catching up on the latest soccer results. Patience is the order of the day. Seatbelts are compulsory and the use of mobile phone while drive is an offence. However, most locals tend to ignore these laws.
You can drive on your home country’s licence for one month. After that you can pay $10 for a temporary BVI licence which is valid for three months. When your three months is up you will need to take a written test to obtain a BVI licence. If you’re over 70 you’ll need to have a medical to prove you are fit to drive, including an eye test.
Below are sample costs of owning and operating a car in the British Virgin Islands:
- Volkswagen Golf:$23,000.00
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):$0.82 – $1.25
- Other fees (if any):Importing a car will cost you 20% in customs duty and an added 1% for wharfage charges. Third party car insurance is around $350. Vehicle licencing and inspection costs depend on the weight of the vehicle.
Source: Numbeo, Vehicle Registration-gov.vg, Driving License-gov.vg.
Ways to save money driving in the British Virgin Islands
- Sadly, carpooling doesn’t exist in the BVI.
- Taxis are cheaper options for a short distance. Since Uber and Lyft are not operating in BVI, try BVIToruism and Stoutt’s Taxi.
Need your car/vehicle moved to the British Virgin Islands? Then read our guide to: Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping
9. Taxes in the British Virgin Islands
There is no tax to pay in the BVI. Technically people and companies are assessed but the tax rate is set at ‘0’ so there’s nothing to pay. Have a look at GSL’s website for detailed information.
10. Flight Costs from the British Virgin Islands
If you do make the move to the British Virgin Islands, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of 2022:
- London: $1,088
- Paris: $1,004
- New York: $257
- Los Angeles: $559
- Toronto: $580
- Dubai: $1,112
- Sydney: $1,664
- Melbourne: $1,822
- Cape Town: $1,940
- Hong Kong: $1,432
Other British Virgin Islands Relocation Tips
The above costs and pricing should give you a good idea of the cost of living in British Virgin Islands. But perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Relocating to the British Virgin Islands Alone
Moving abroad is stressful but moving alone can be exceptionally difficult. Nevertheless, the relaxed atmosphere in the British Virgin Islands and the friendly people will help you ease into your new life. Below are a few tips on settling in the British Virgin Islands.
- Meetups:Connect with like-minded souls through Meetup to participate in a wide range of activities from diving and boating to yoga and chess.
- Attend local events: British Virgin Islanders find any excuse to plan an event and many of the activities are free. Have a look at the following sites for inspiration – TripAdvisor, Gov, Iexplore, Trip Savvyand Caribbean Events
12. Moving to the British Virgin Islands with a Family
Moving to the British Virgin Islands with a family is exciting and the kids will settle really quickly in a country with such a relaxed atmosphere and all that sea. Below are a few suggestions for you for the purpose.
- New parents (or parents-to-be):Check out First Time Mother and BVI Newbie for advice, courses and ways to meet other parents or parents-to-be.
- Live in a family-friendly area: Everywhere in the BVI is family friendly but you obviously need to look at areas that have schools and other facilities. Tortola, being the largest island, has the best selection of accommodation. Virgin Gorda, Scrub Island, Jost Van Dyke, Great Camanoe, and Anegada are other options.
- Find things to do with the kids:The British Virgin Islands has lots to keep the kiddies happy and busy. Have a look at the following websites for inspiration – British Virgin Islands with Kids, Inspirock, Marinemax, EliteTraveler and Family Traveller.
13. Moving to the British Virgin Islands for Work
Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
Tourism and financial services are the major economy sectors. You need to be sponsored by a BVI company in order to be granted a work permit. The BVI Government often posts job openings for foreigners.
Below are things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary: Salaries vary considerably and are dependent on the sector you’re working in and at what level you’re working. Check salary ranges for your occupation on com and Glassdoor.
- How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Miami, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start – gov, VisaHunter, We-Xpats, Caribbean Jobs and Hire BVI. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.
14. Moving to the British Virgin Islands from Australia
There are a handful of Aussies living and working in the British Virgin Islands. If you are thinking of moving from Australia to the British Virgin Islands, below are things to consider.
- Size comparison:Australia is 51,266 times bigger than BVI. The population of Australia is 25,739,000 whereas the population of BVI is just 30,423.
- Join expat groups: Connect with fellow Australians in BVI through Meetup, Internations and Facebook.
15. Moving to the British Virgin Islands from Canada
BVI hosts comparatively a large number of Canadians. If you’re moving to BVI from Canada below are a few things to consider.
- Size:Canada is 66,124 times bigger than BVI. The population of Canada is 38,246,000 whereas the population of BVI is just 30,423.
- Expat groups:Connect with fellow Canadians in BVI through Meetup and Internations.
16. Moving to the British Virgin Islands from the United Kingdom
There is a sizable population of non-residents from the UK living in the British Virgin Islands. If you’re considering joining them, below are a few bonus tips:
- Size: The UK is 1,613 times bigger than BVI. The population of the UK is 67,327,000 whereas the population of BVI is just 30,423.
- Expat groups:Connect with fellow Canadians in BVI through Meetup and Internations.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to the British Virgin Islands you can start by comparing moving quotes here.
English 
French 
German 
Italian 
Spanish 
Chinese 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Polish 
Bulgarian 
Czech 
Danish 
Dutch 
Estonian 
Finnish 
Greek 
Hungarian 
Latvian 
Lithuanian 
Romanian 
Russian 
Slovak 
Slovenian 
Swedish 
Turkish 
Korean 
Indonesian 
Norwegian 
Ukrainian