🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in Bahamas versus $2,643 in United States.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Bahamas versus $3,857 in United States.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,632 in Bahamas versus $5,070 in United States.
🌍Living in Bahamas costs about 75% less than in United States on average.
📊Bahamas (51% below) and United States (99% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.62BSD 29.62
$19.67$19.67
50.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$128BSD 128
$73.9$73.9
72.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.71BSD 11.71
$11.35$11.35
3.17%
Cappuccino
$5.66BSD 5.66
$5.15$5.15
9.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68BSD 2.68
$2.54$2.54
5.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07BSD 2.07
$2.14$2.14
-3.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.96BSD 4.96
$6.13$6.13
-19.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05BSD 7.05
$6.84$6.84
3.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.35BSD 4.35
$1.04$1.04
318.27%
White Bread(500g)
$4.77BSD 4.77
$3.54$3.54
34.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.91BSD 5.91
$4.66$4.66
26.82%
Eggs
$7.84BSD 7.84
$4.20$4.20
86.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50BSD 9.50
$12.73$12.73
-25.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.32BSD 10.32
$12.45$12.45
-17.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.76BSD 19.76
$16.15$16.15
22.35%
Apples(1kg)
$4.74BSD 4.74
$5.16$5.16
-8.14%
Banana(1kg)
$3.22BSD 3.22
$1.72$1.72
87.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.73BSD 4.73
$4.61$4.61
2.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.99BSD 6.99
$4.95$4.95
41.21%
Potato(1kg)
$3.74BSD 3.74
$3.01$3.01
24.25%
Onion(1kg)
$3.44BSD 3.44
$3.16$3.16
8.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.08BSD 3.08
$2.25$2.25
36.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49BSD 2.49
$2.19$2.19
13.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.93BSD 13.93
$10.07$10.07
38.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$28.98BSD 28.98
$15.26$15.26
89.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00BSD 4.00
$2.01$2.01
99.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64BSD 4.64
$3.53$3.53
31.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahamas
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.51BSD 1.51
$2.45$2.45
-38.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.39BSD 44.39
$65.3$65.3
-31.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42BSD 4.42
$3.73$3.73
18.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.10BSD 3.10
$1.76$1.76
76.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$101BSD 101
$29.83$29.83
238.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44BSD 1.44
$0.96$0.96
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KBSD 37.3K
$29.5K$29.5K
26.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KBSD 39.2K
$26.2K$26.2K
49.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$256BSD 256
$204$204
25.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.3BSD 64.3
$56.7$56.7
13.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$96.8BSD 96.8
$71.7$71.7
34.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$106BSD 106
$45.88$45.88
131.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$59.2BSD 59.2
$21.70$21.70
173.00%
Cinema Ticket
$18.16BSD 18.16
$13.96$13.96
30.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$600BSD 600
$1,400$1,400
-57.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KBSD 14.4K
$23.0K$23.0K
-37.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1BSD 60.1
$53.3$53.3
12.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.62BSD 49.62
$42.28$42.28
17.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112BSD 112
$91.5$91.5
22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114BSD 114
$114$114
-0.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,340BSD 1,340
$1,704$1,704
-21.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,278BSD 1,278
$1,454$1,454
-12.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,544BSD 3,544
$2,933$2,933
20.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,385BSD 3,385
$2,420$2,420
39.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,256BSD 4,256
$3,366$3,366
26.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,248BSD 3,248
$2,596$2,596
25.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,619BSD 2,619
$4,392$4,392
-40.38%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for United States: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $281 in Bahamas, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $1,847 in Nassau vs $2,575 in Washington, DC.
💰National salary averages: $2,342 in Bahamas, $4,499 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 482% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 135% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 92% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Bahamas.
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 the cost in United States?
At $1,856 per month in Bahamas and $3,247 in United States, there's a 75% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Bahamas: 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 in United States?
Rent in United States is consistently higher than in 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 stretches only to regional areas and 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.