British Virgin Islands
Profiled in Road Town · the Caribbean
A tidy harbour town wrapped around a yacht-filled bay, where offshore finance and barefoot sailing culture share the same small main street.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Almost everything is imported, so groceries, fuel and rent all run high. Housing is the biggest shock, and a family will spend far more than the same money would buy in the wider Caribbean.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Road Town
- J.R. O'Neal Botanic GardensFour acres of tropical planting, an orchid house and a lily pond in the middle of town.
- Old Government House MuseumThe former governor's residence, now a museum of colonial-era furniture, stamps and photographs.
- Main StreetThe old lane behind the waterfront, lined with pastel West Indian buildings and small shops.
- Fort BurtA restored 18th-century fort above the harbour entrance with a wide view over Road Town.
- Sage Mountain National ParkThe highest point in the territory, a short drive up Tortola into cool cloud forest and marked trails.
- Cane Garden BayA long sweep of sand over the ridge from town, the island's best-known swimming beach.
- Callwood Rum DistilleryA centuries-old family distillery at Cane Garden Bay still making rum the traditional way.
- Mount Healthy National ParkThe stone ruins of an 18th-century windmill from a former sugar plantation.
- 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works MuseumA small heritage museum in a restored sugar-works building near the town centre.
- Road Town WaterfrontThe boardwalk and marinas where charter yachts and ferries come and go all day.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- Virgin GordaA short ferry away. The Baths, a maze of giant granite boulders and tidal pools, is the signature stop.
- Jost Van DykeWhite Bay and the famous Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the Painkiller, make for an easy island day out.
- AnegadaThe only flat coral island in the chain. Known for empty beaches, fresh lobster and pink flamingos in the salt ponds.
- Norman IslandUninhabited and ringed by top snorkelling at The Indians and the Caves, plus the Willy T floating bar offshore.
- Peter IslandA quiet private-island escape across Sir Francis Drake Channel, with calm bays and good day anchorages.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Capriccio di MareA long-running Italian cafe on Waterfront Drive, good for espresso, pastries and people-watching.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- Pusser's Road Town PubThe landmark harbourside pub and store, birthplace of the Painkiller cocktail.
- The DoveAn intimate fine-dining restaurant and wine bar in a restored town house.
- Le CabanonA relaxed French bistro on the waterfront, a fixture of the Road Town dining scene.
- Brandywine EstateLong-standing Mediterranean fine dining on a hillside just east of town, with harbour views.
- Village Cay RestaurantMarina-side dining at Village Cay, popular for seafood and the sailing crowd.
- Roti PalaceA no-frills local favourite tucked off Main Street, known for its West Indian roti.
Morning
Best breakfast
- Capriccio di MareCappuccino, fresh cornetti and a light Italian breakfast on the waterfront.
- Village Cay RestaurantSit-down morning plates and coffee looking over the marina boats.
- Pusser's Road Town PubA dependable harbourside spot for a full cooked breakfast before a day on the water.
Residency
Residency is driven by work permits tied to a specific employer, and there is no direct investment-for-residency route. Permanent residence and Belonger status take many years and remain hard to obtain.
Tax
There is no income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, which is the territory's main draw. Revenue comes instead from a payroll tax, import duties and property stamp duty.
Thinking about moving here for real? See the verified British Virgin Islands residency and citizenship routes →
Curious what you would actually pay? See the British Virgin Islands tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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