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: $663 in Bahamas versus $2,643 in United States.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,157 in Bahamas versus $3,857 in United States.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,650 in Bahamas versus $5,071 in United States.

Living in Bahamas costs about 75% less than in United States on average.

Bahamas (50% below) and United States (97% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.14 BSD 30.14
$20.23 $20.23
48.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 BSD 132
$74.3 $74.3
77.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 BSD 11.32
$11.29 $11.29
0.27%
Cappuccino
$5.53 BSD 5.53
$5.12 $5.12
8.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 BSD 2.55
$2.54 $2.54
0.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 BSD 2.00
$2.12 $2.12
-5.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.04 BSD 5.04
$5.84 $5.84
-13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01 BSD 7.01
$6.86 $6.86
2.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.16 BSD 4.16
$1.03 $1.03
303.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.82 BSD 4.82
$3.73 $3.73
29.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.87 BSD 5.87
$4.51 $4.51
30.16%
Eggs
$7.63 BSD 7.63
$4.30 $4.30
77.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.13 BSD 9.13
$13.16 $13.16
-30.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.47 BSD 10.47
$12.40 $12.40
-15.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.24 BSD 19.24
$16.19 $16.19
18.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.81 BSD 4.81
$5.33 $5.33
-9.76%
Banana (1kg)
$3.22 BSD 3.22
$1.73 $1.73
86.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.81 BSD 4.81
$4.56 $4.56
5.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.32 BSD 7.32
$4.88 $4.88
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 BSD 3.75
$2.87 $2.87
30.66%
Onion (1kg)
$3.43 BSD 3.43
$3.10 $3.10
10.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 BSD 3.05
$2.24 $2.24
36.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 BSD 2.51
$2.26 $2.26
11.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.61 BSD 13.61
$10.07 $10.07
35.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$29.71 BSD 29.71
$15.27 $15.27
94.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92 BSD 3.92
$2.00 $2.00
96.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 BSD 4.58
$3.52 $3.52
30.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahamas
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 BSD 1.54
$2.57 $2.57
-40.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.63 BSD 45.63
$66.0 $66.0
-30.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.60 BSD 4.60
$3.74 $3.74
22.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.04 BSD 3.04
$1.70 $1.70
78.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$98.1 BSD 98.1
$30.03 $30.03
226.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 BSD 1.50
$0.93 $0.93
61.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K BSD 37.9K
$30.2K $30.2K
25.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K BSD 39.7K
$26.0K $26.0K
53.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$249 BSD 249
$206 $206
20.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.7 BSD 64.7
$57.1 $57.1
13.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.6 BSD 97.6
$73.2 $73.2
33.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$109 BSD 109
$46.50 $46.50
133.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$61.0 BSD 61.0
$22.07 $22.07
176.57%
Cinema Ticket
$17.93 BSD 17.93
$14.14 $14.14
26.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$613 BSD 613
$1,371 $1,371
-55.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K BSD 14.2K
$22.8K $22.8K
-37.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 BSD 59.3
$51.3 $51.3
15.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.57 BSD 49.57
$42.27 $42.27
17.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 BSD 114
$89.9 $89.9
26.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 BSD 116
$114 $114
1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,305 BSD 1,305
$1,740 $1,740
-25.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 BSD 1,292
$1,409 $1,409
-8.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,527 BSD 3,527
$2,912 $2,912
21.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,378 BSD 3,378
$2,377 $2,377
42.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,166 BSD 4,166
$3,412 $3,412
22.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,323 BSD 3,323
$2,669 $2,669
24.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahamas
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,484 BSD 2,484
$4,242 $4,242
-41.45%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for United States: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $280 in Bahamas, $1,635 in United States. Capital cities: $1,833 in Nassau vs $2,512 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $2,214 in Bahamas, $4,494 in United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 484% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 128% more in United States.

Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 103% 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 $1,910 per month in Bahamas and $3,220 in United States, there's a 69% 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.

Bahamas vs other spots: cost of living compared

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