What Would My Monthly Expenses Be Like Living In The British Virgin Islands?

Q:  How much is the budget on food, rents and others stuff monthly like that?

A:  Rent could be between $800.00 - $1500.00 and up.  This all depends on the number of rooms and if the apartment is furnished or not and if utilities are included in the rent.

Electricity: We pay an average of $60.00 monthly in a 2 bedroom apartment with my husband and I.

Water: $50.00

Cable TV: $55.00 (we have the basic service).  Since after hurricane Irma 2017, we no longer pay for cable TV.  The company that provided that service has closed down.  I use Netflix and pay for one device which is $7.99 a month.

Groceries: We spend about $400.00 a month and we don't buy meat.  Many people opt to going to St. Thomas (of course you will have to have your american visa) and buy bulk grocery items.  There is a Price Mart outlet there.

Cruise ship docked at Tortola Pier Park, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

How To Get A Job In The British Virgin Islands

Q:  What is the process to get a job in the British Virgin Islands?

A:  You can do your research before arriving in the British Virgin Islands.  You can check out this online newspaper BVI Beacon newspaper and look for job vacancies and apartments to rent in the classified ads section.  
I like to recommend this website because they update the classified ads section on a regular basis.

A word of caution though, many jobs vacancies you may see in the classified ads section of the newspapers would have been filled.  The reason the vacancies would still be in the newspapers is that the employer has to put an ad in the papers for two weeks. This is part of the work permit process.

However have no fear there will be 'real' job vacancies listed the the classified section of the newspapers.

Of course, you can come on vacation and look for a job while you are here.  You will definitely have to leave the island once you have found a job and your work permit is being processed. 

Other Things To Know About Living In The British Virgin Islands

Mailing Service

There isn't any door to door mailing service. In order to collect mails we have to go to the post office.  Some people get a post office box for which they have pay an annual fee for this service.

Garbage Disposal

There isn't any door to door garbage collection service.  There are huge green bins located at strategic points and we have to take our garbage and put them in these bins.  At the end of the day the garbage trucks will come and empty these green bins.

International Airport

Tortola is connected to Beef Island by a bridge.  The international airport, Terrance B Lettsome International Airport, is located on Beef island.

Bridge that connects Tortola and Beef Island

British Virgin Islands Taxes

When you have completed the process of obtaining your work permit you are required to sign up for Social Security and National Health Insurance.

With each pay check your employer will deduct 4% of your earnings for Social Security and 3.75% for National Health Insurance.  The employer also has to make a contribution on your behalf 4.5%, of your monthly earnings, for Social Security and 3.75% for National Health Insurance.

We are allowed ten thousand dollars tax free earnings for the year.  After that we are required to pay 8%, per pay check, for Payroll Tax and our employer pays 6% Payroll Tax.

FYI   We don't pay taxes on goods and services.