Essentials
- City
- Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
- Population
- Approximately 24,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 25-50 Mbps; Digicel and Flow offer fiber in Road Town
- Currency & Banking
- The official currency is the US Dollar (USD). Banking via FirstBank or Banco Popular
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; most residents use cisterns or buy 5-gallon bottled water ($7.00)
- Power
- 110V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (US Standard)
- SIM Card
- Digicel or Flow BVI; Prepraid plans around $50/month for 20GB
- Banking for Expats
- FirstBank BVI, VP Bank, and digital options like Revolut/Wise (USD accounts)
- Accommodation
- Long-term rentals via BVI Property Guide; Airbnb listings in Cane Garden Bay
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly yes in Road Town; cash is essential for smaller beach bars and taxis
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, and local guest houses like Sebastian's on the Beach
- Budget Accommodation
- Maria's by the Sea (approx. $180/night) or Hummingbird House ($150/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Cane Garden Bay for beaches and nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Road Town for proximity to offices, banks, and reliable high-speed fiber
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Communitie Strategy (Road Town) - approx. $30/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Omar’s Coffee House (Soper’s Hole) or Island Cup Coffeehouse (Road Town)
- Networking Events
- BVI Chamber of Commerce events and Rotary Club of Tortola weekly meetings
- Social Events for Expats
- BVI Community Board on Facebook; Friday nights at Village Cay Marina
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Bolt. Use private taxi dispatchers like BVI Taxi Association (Fixed rates via tariff)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Last Stop Sports (Road Town) - $35/day for mountain bikes
- Best Beach Nearby
- Smuggler's Cove (Secluded) or Josiah's Bay (Surfing)
- Top Regional Airline
- Silver Airways and InterCaribbean Airways
- Top International Airline
- American Airlines (Direct from Miami) and Winair (via St. Maarten)
- Highway Access
- Sir Francis Drake Highway (Main coastal road connecting East End to West End)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Road Town Ferry Terminal (Hub for inter-island travel to Virgin Gorda/Jost Van Dyke)
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal bus system; 'Safari' buses run loosely along main routes for $2-$5
- Regional Travel
- Ferries (Road Town Fast Ferry) to St. Thomas (USVI) - approx. $60 round trip
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital (Road Town)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Frangipani Yoga (Cane Garden Bay) and Akasha Yoga (Road Town)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Tortola Sports Club (Road Town) - Daily pass $20
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Basket (Road Town) - Wash and fold service available
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Limited services; most use direct ordering via WhatsApp or 'Caribbean Delivery'
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fungi and Fish (Cornmeal based side dish)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- GrapeTree Social or Lady Sarah's Farms (Fresh produce and plant-based meals)
- Best Dessert Spots
- La Baguette (Road Town) for French pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Bobby’s Supermarket or OneMart (Road Town)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- None local; most residents use Aeropost for Amazon imports
- Grocery Delivery
- RiteWay Food Markets (Online ordering and delivery available BVI-wide)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Cane Garden Bay (Quito’s Gazebo) and Road Town (Pusser’s Pub)
- Local Brewery
- Tola Brewing (Located on Tortola, available in local bars)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Cellar (Port Purcell)
- Street Food Stalls
- Road Town Festival Grounds during lunch; BBQ chicken and ribs
- Popular International Cuisine
- Capriccio di Mare (Italian) in Road Town
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Baths (On nearby Virgin Gorda) or Mount Sage National Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- Old Government House Museum (Road Town)
- Historical Sites
- Fort Burt and the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum
- Religious Sites
- St. George’s Anglican Church (Road Town)
- Annual Events
- BVI Emancipation Festival (August) and BVI Spring Regatta (March/April)
- Cultural Districts
- Main Street, Road Town (Historical architecture)
- Theater Venues
- H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Auditorium
- Local Markets
- Saturday morning market at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza
- Music Scene
- Fungi Music acts at Quito's Gazebo
- Street Art
- Murals at the Tortola Pier Park
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at HLSCC Culinary Arts Center
- Art Galleries
- Sunny Caribbee Gallery (Main Street)
- Historic Buildings
- The Post Office building in Road Town
- Local Heritage
- Strong seafaring and boat-building traditions
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Brewers Bay for snorkeling and sea turtles
- National Parks Nearby
- Sage Mountain National Park (Highest point in BVI)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Trekking trails in Mount Sage; Queen Elizabeth II Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Skyworld (Currently inactive building but the viewpoint remains accessible)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Guana Island or the salt ponds on Tortola
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Cane Garden Bay (limited to specific permit events)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (Road Town) and FedEx (Tortola)
- Tech Repair Services
- BVI Tech Help (Road Town)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Tortola Sports Club
- Language Classes
- H. Lavity Stoutt Community College offers ESL and Spanish
- Libraries & Study Spots
- BVI Public Library (Road Town)
- Community Centers
- Multipurpose Sports Complex (Road Town)
- Gaming Lounges
- No dedicated public gaming lounges
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is generally illegal/restricted in the BVI
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $180,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $240,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $440,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $280,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 0% for standard international business companies
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Territorial/Income tax system; payroll tax is the primary tax
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Payroll tax ranges from 10% to 14% (shared between employer and employee)
- VAT
- 0% (There is no VAT/Sales tax, but there are import duties)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on acreage and building size (Relatively low)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty for non-belongers is typically 12% of the purchase price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% capital gains, 0% wealth tax, and no VAT