🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $652 in Bahamas versus $2,643 in United States.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,151 in Bahamas versus $3,856 in United States.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,649 in Bahamas versus $5,069 in United States.
🙂Living in Bahamas costs about 75% less than in United States on average.
📊Bahamas (51% below) and United States (97% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.59BSD 30.59
$20.12$20.12
52.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132BSD 132
$73.9$73.9
78.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.47BSD 11.47
$11.56$11.56
-0.78%
Cappuccino
$5.37BSD 5.37
$5.09$5.09
5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65BSD 2.65
$2.58$2.58
2.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01BSD 2.01
$2.15$2.15
-6.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90BSD 4.90
$6.10$6.10
-19.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85BSD 6.85
$6.95$6.95
-1.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.32BSD 4.32
$1.08$1.08
300.00%
White Bread(500g)
$4.97BSD 4.97
$3.74$3.74
32.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.81BSD 5.81
$4.53$4.53
28.26%
Eggs
$7.99BSD 7.99
$4.43$4.43
80.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.56BSD 9.56
$12.99$12.99
-26.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.56BSD 10.56
$12.25$12.25
-13.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.62BSD 19.62
$16.17$16.17
21.34%
Apples(1kg)
$4.88BSD 4.88
$5.31$5.31
-8.10%
Banana(1kg)
$3.35BSD 3.35
$1.64$1.64
104.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.68BSD 4.68
$4.44$4.44
5.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.26BSD 7.26
$5.03$5.03
44.33%
Potato(1kg)
$3.60BSD 3.60
$2.98$2.98
20.81%
Onion(1kg)
$3.42BSD 3.42
$3.03$3.03
12.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.99BSD 2.99
$2.26$2.26
32.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58BSD 2.58
$2.28$2.28
13.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.62BSD 13.62
$10.12$10.12
34.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$29.45BSD 29.45
$14.94$14.94
97.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.99BSD 3.99
$1.97$1.97
102.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44BSD 4.44
$3.66$3.66
21.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahamas
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.51BSD 1.51
$2.43$2.43
-37.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.68BSD 45.68
$64.7$64.7
-29.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60BSD 4.60
$3.83$3.83
20.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.17BSD 3.17
$1.78$1.78
78.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102BSD 102
$30.45$30.45
233.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42BSD 1.42
$0.88$0.88
61.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KBSD 37.2K
$30.3K$30.3K
22.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8KBSD 38.8K
$25.9K$25.9K
50.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$252BSD 252
$205$205
22.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.2BSD 66.2
$57.6$57.6
14.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$96.5BSD 96.5
$71.9$71.9
34.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109BSD 109
$45.53$45.53
138.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.9BSD 58.9
$22.32$22.32
163.89%
Cinema Ticket
$17.78BSD 17.78
$13.82$13.82
28.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$604BSD 604
$1,374$1,374
-56.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0KBSD 14.0K
$23.0K$23.0K
-39.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6BSD 60.6
$51.3$51.3
18.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.51BSD 48.51
$43.35$43.35
11.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113BSD 113
$91.2$91.2
24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115BSD 115
$115$115
0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,329BSD 1,329
$1,761$1,761
-24.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303BSD 1,303
$1,428$1,428
-8.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,621BSD 3,621
$2,843$2,843
27.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,355BSD 3,355
$2,380$2,380
40.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,128BSD 4,128
$3,299$3,299
25.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,266BSD 3,266
$2,587$2,587
26.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,446BSD 2,446
$4,234$4,234
-42.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.04
6.51
38.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bahamas: June 7, 2026
Last update for United States: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $284 in Bahamas, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $1,869 in Nassau vs $1,583 in Washington, MI.
💰National salary averages: $2,201 in Bahamas, $4,496 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 476% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 128% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 104% higher in United States, 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Bahamas compare to United States?
At $1,878 per month in Bahamas and $3,271 in United States, there's a 74% 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 United States?
Bahamas 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 United States?
Rent in United States beats Bahamas 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 United States on $2,000 per month?
In Bahamas, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In United States, 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 United States?
It depends on what you're after. Bahamas wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.