Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahamas and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahamas and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Bahamas versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,161 in Bahamas versus $1,132 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,668 in Bahamas versus $1,551 in China.

Living in Bahamas costs about 8% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Bahamas 51% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahamas
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.54 BSD 30.54
$2.81 ¥18.98
986.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130 BSD 130
$23.30 ¥158
458.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.49 BSD 11.49
$5.01 ¥33.87
129.34%
Cappuccino
$5.63 BSD 5.63
$3.01 ¥20.38
87.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 BSD 2.55
$0.45 ¥3.03
466.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 BSD 2.03
$0.29 ¥1.97
600.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.14 BSD 5.14
$0.95 ¥6.41
441.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 BSD 6.94
$2.05 ¥13.87
238.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.19 BSD 4.19
$1.76 ¥11.87
138.07%
White Bread (500g)
$4.99 BSD 4.99
$1.62 ¥10.98
208.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.89 BSD 5.89
$0.95 ¥6.45
520.00%
Eggs
$7.63 BSD 7.63
$1.56 ¥10.55
389.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.15 BSD 9.15
$13.06 ¥88.3
-29.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.40 BSD 10.40
$3.28 ¥22.17
217.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.59 BSD 19.59
$10.65 ¥72.0
83.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 BSD 4.89
$1.78 ¥12.03
174.72%
Banana (1kg)
$3.26 BSD 3.26
$1.24 ¥8.42
162.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 BSD 4.80
$1.50 ¥10.12
220.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.26 BSD 7.26
$1.15 ¥7.79
531.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.60 BSD 3.60
$0.75 ¥5.07
380.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.56 BSD 3.56
$0.86 ¥5.81
313.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.01 BSD 3.01
$0.62 ¥4.17
385.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 BSD 2.53
$0.56 ¥3.81
351.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74 BSD 13.74
$3.51 ¥23.76
291.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$30.04 BSD 30.04
$11.66 ¥78.9
157.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.87 BSD 3.87
$0.80 ¥5.40
383.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 BSD 4.55
$1.66 ¥11.25
174.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahamas
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 BSD 1.46
$0.43 ¥2.93
239.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.10 BSD 45.10
$20.86 ¥141
116.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 BSD 4.56
$1.37 ¥9.26
232.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.06 BSD 3.06
$0.35 ¥2.38
774.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$98.7 BSD 98.7
$6.63 ¥44.82
1388.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 BSD 1.49
$1.14 ¥7.69
30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K BSD 37.5K
$19.2K ¥129.7K
95.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K BSD 39.0K
$16.8K ¥113.4K
132.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahamas
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 BSD 252
$51.2 ¥346
391.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.3 BSD 65.3
$10.16 ¥68.7
542.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$95.2 BSD 95.2
$11.51 ¥77.9
726.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$107 BSD 107
$40.53 ¥274
163.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$60.0 BSD 60.0
$15.05 ¥102
298.41%
Cinema Ticket
$17.95 BSD 17.95
$6.10 ¥41.26
194.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahamas
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$612 BSD 612
$402 ¥2,719
52.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K BSD 14.2K
$17.7K ¥119.5K
-19.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7 BSD 60.7
$45.57 ¥308
33.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.34 BSD 49.34
$33.26 ¥225
48.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 BSD 115
$72.6 ¥491
57.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 BSD 116
$74.5 ¥503
55.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,302 BSD 1,302
$429 ¥2,903
203.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 BSD 1,312
$257 ¥1,739
410.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,595 BSD 3,595
$895 ¥6,055
301.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,430 BSD 3,430
$541 ¥3,660
533.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,198 BSD 4,198
$5,015 ¥33.9K
-16.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,254 BSD 3,254
$2,469 ¥16.7K
31.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahamas
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,458 BSD 2,458
$1,055 ¥7,132
133.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.04
4.06
122.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bahamas: May 31, 2026

Last update for China: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $280 in Bahamas, $286 in China. Capital cities: $1,840 in Nassau vs $916 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $2,237 in Bahamas, $861 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 52% more in Bahamas.

Public transport is 500% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 160% higher in Bahamas, giving Bahamas stronger purchasing power.

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
Bahamas vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Bahamas compare to China?
At $1,843 per month in Bahamas and $865 in China, there's a 113% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Bahamas vs China?
China is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Bahamas or China?
Rent in Bahamas beats China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Bahamas and China on $2,000 per month?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Bahamas, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Bahamas or China?
It depends on what you're after. China wins on affordability; Bahamas may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Bahamas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries