Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahamas and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahamas and United States

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$30.59 BSD 30.59
$20.12 $20.12
52.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 BSD 132
$73.9 $73.9
78.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.47 BSD 11.47
$11.56 $11.56
-0.78%
Cappuccino
$5.37 BSD 5.37
$5.09 $5.09
5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 BSD 2.65
$2.58 $2.58
2.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 BSD 2.01
$2.15 $2.15
-6.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 BSD 4.90
$6.10 $6.10
-19.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 BSD 6.85
$6.95 $6.95
-1.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.32 BSD 4.32
$1.08 $1.08
300.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 BSD 4.97
$3.74 $3.74
32.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.81 BSD 5.81
$4.53 $4.53
28.26%
Eggs
$7.99 BSD 7.99
$4.43 $4.43
80.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.56 BSD 9.56
$12.99 $12.99
-26.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.56 BSD 10.56
$12.25 $12.25
-13.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.62 BSD 19.62
$16.17 $16.17
21.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 BSD 4.88
$5.31 $5.31
-8.10%
Banana (1kg)
$3.35 BSD 3.35
$1.64 $1.64
104.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 BSD 4.68
$4.44 $4.44
5.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.26 BSD 7.26
$5.03 $5.03
44.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.60 BSD 3.60
$2.98 $2.98
20.81%
Onion (1kg)
$3.42 BSD 3.42
$3.03 $3.03
12.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 BSD 2.99
$2.26 $2.26
32.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 BSD 2.58
$2.28 $2.28
13.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.62 BSD 13.62
$10.12 $10.12
34.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$29.45 BSD 29.45
$14.94 $14.94
97.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.99 BSD 3.99
$1.97 $1.97
102.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 BSD 4.44
$3.66 $3.66
21.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahamas
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 BSD 1.51
$2.43 $2.43
-37.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.68 BSD 45.68
$64.7 $64.7
-29.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.60 BSD 4.60
$3.83 $3.83
20.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.17 BSD 3.17
$1.78 $1.78
78.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$102 BSD 102
$30.45 $30.45
233.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 BSD 1.42
$0.88 $0.88
61.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K BSD 37.2K
$30.3K $30.3K
22.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K BSD 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)
$252 BSD 252
$205 $205
22.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.2 BSD 66.2
$57.6 $57.6
14.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$96.5 BSD 96.5
$71.9 $71.9
34.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$109 BSD 109
$45.53 $45.53
138.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.9 BSD 58.9
$22.32 $22.32
163.89%
Cinema Ticket
$17.78 BSD 17.78
$13.82 $13.82
28.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$604 BSD 604
$1,374 $1,374
-56.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K BSD 14.0K
$23.0K $23.0K
-39.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 BSD 60.6
$51.3 $51.3
18.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.51 BSD 48.51
$43.35 $43.35
11.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 BSD 113
$91.2 $91.2
24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 BSD 115
$115 $115
0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,329 BSD 1,329
$1,761 $1,761
-24.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,303 BSD 1,303
$1,428 $1,428
-8.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,621 BSD 3,621
$2,843 $2,843
27.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,355 BSD 3,355
$2,380 $2,380
40.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,128 BSD 4,128
$3,299 $3,299
25.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,266 BSD 3,266
$2,587 $2,587
26.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,446 BSD 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.

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