Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and Bridgetown Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and Bridgetown

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,838 in Barbados versus $2,460 in Bridgetown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,128 in Barbados versus $3,738 in Bridgetown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,418 in Barbados versus $5,015 in Bridgetown.

Living in Barbados costs roughly 25% less than in Bridgetown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barbados 34% above, Bridgetown 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.97 BBD 49.93

$20.10 BBD 40.20

24.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 BBD 221

$94.7 BBD 189

16.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 BBD 25.49

$7.41 BBD 14.81

71.93%

Cappuccino

$4.64 BBD 9.28

$4.46 BBD 8.91

4.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 BBD 4.43

$1.53 BBD 3.05

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BBD 3.45

$1.37 BBD 2.74

26.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BBD 5.95

$2.45 BBD 4.91

21.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 BBD 8.10

$5.93 BBD 11.86

-31.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.50 BBD 7.01

$3.98 BBD 7.96

-12.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 BBD 5.37

$3.93 BBD 7.87

-31.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 BBD 8.13

$2.94 BBD 5.87

38.10%

Eggs

$5.88 BBD 11.76

$6.15 BBD 12.30

-4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.72 BBD 13.43

$9.13 BBD 18.27

-26.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.36 BBD 20.71

$9.47 BBD 18.93

9.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.28 BBD 22.55

$7.76 BBD 15.52

45.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 BBD 9.95

$5.61 BBD 11.22

-11.41%

Banana (1kg)

$4.25 BBD 8.49

$3.11 BBD 6.22

36.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.45 BBD 10.90

$5.36 BBD 10.72

1.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.72 BBD 11.44

$4.98 BBD 9.97

14.86%

Potato (1kg)

$6.95 BBD 13.90

$1.82 BBD 3.65

281.87%

Onion (1kg)

$4.95 BBD 9.90

$2.35 BBD 4.70

110.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 BBD 5.53

$2.81 BBD 5.62

-1.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 BBD 5.47

$3.24 BBD 6.48

-15.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 BBD 14.13

$10.13 BBD 20.26

-30.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.15 BBD 32.30

$13.83 BBD 27.67

16.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 BBD 3.45

$1.79 BBD 3.58

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 BBD 5.82

$1.85 BBD 3.70

57.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 BBD 3.43

$1.74 BBD 3.48

-1.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.52 BBD 55.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 BBD 10.16

$7.30 BBD 14.60

-30.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 BBD 6.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.06 BBD 80.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.97 BBD 3.95

$2.03 BBD 4.07

-2.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$49.7K BBD 99.3K

$37.6K BBD 75.2K

31.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.2K BBD 78.5K

$34.9K BBD 69.7K

12.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$99.9 BBD 200

$194 BBD 388

-48.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$49.77 BBD 99.5

$56.2 BBD 112

-11.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.4 BBD 173

$79.7 BBD 159

8.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 BBD 147

$91.8 BBD 184

-19.80%

Cinema Ticket

$8.99 BBD 17.97

$15.16 BBD 30.32

-40.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,032 BBD 6,064

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.14 BBD 94.3

$52.8 BBD 106

-10.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.93 BBD 39.86

$39.15 BBD 78.3

-49.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.0 BBD 120

$99.1 BBD 198

-39.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.5 BBD 139

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 BBD 1,321

$1,196 BBD 2,391

-44.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 BBD 1,312

$1,138 BBD 2,275

-42.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,831 BBD 3,662

$2,110 BBD 4,220

-13.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,383 BBD 6,766

$2,016 BBD 4,033

67.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,524 BBD 7,048

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,561 BBD 7,121

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,350 BBD 2,700

$1,787 BBD 3,574

-24.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

60.58%

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

Last update for Barbados: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bridgetown: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Barbados and $1,196 in Bridgetown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bridgetown pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $110 in Barbados vs $95.0 in Bridgetown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $430 vs $407 per month, with Bridgetown cheaper across the board.

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

Barbados vs Bridgetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barbados and Bridgetown differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,838 vs $2,460 including rent). Barbados is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Bridgetown. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $661 in Barbados versus $1,196 in Bridgetown. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Barbados – a meal for two runs $110 versus $95.0 in Bridgetown. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,838 per month in Barbados versus $2,460 in Bridgetown – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,838 in Barbados versus $2,460 in Bridgetown, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barbados but tight or insufficient in Bridgetown. The gap between the two cities makes Barbados the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Barbados and Bridgetown are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Barbados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Bridgetown. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.