Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and Holetown Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and Holetown

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,951 in Barbados versus $725 in Holetown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,145 in Barbados versus $1,385 in Holetown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,338 in Barbados versus $2,045 in Holetown.

Living in Barbados is roughly 169% more expensive than Holetown, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barbados is 46% above, Holetown is 46% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.29 BBD 40.58
$12.57 BBD 25.13
61.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 BBD 224
$101 BBD 202
10.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 BBD 20.83
$15.20 BBD 30.39
-31.45%
Cappuccino
$4.51 BBD 9.02
$4.57 BBD 9.15
-1.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 BBD 4.08
$1.48 BBD 2.95
37.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 BBD 2.85
$1.28 BBD 2.57
10.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.08 BBD 6.15
$1.96 BBD 3.92
57.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 BBD 7.89
$3.01 BBD 6.02
30.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.66 BBD 7.32
$1.94 BBD 3.89
88.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 BBD 5.34
$1.27 BBD 2.53
110.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 BBD 9.15
$4.12 BBD 8.23
11.17%
Eggs
$6.08 BBD 12.17
$6.97 BBD 13.93
-12.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.85 BBD 13.69
$12.08 BBD 24.15
-43.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.09 BBD 26.17
$12.33 BBD 24.65
6.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.32 BBD 20.64
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 BBD 9.48
$7.09 BBD 14.18
-33.15%
Banana (1kg)
$3.04 BBD 6.08
$7.56 BBD 15.11
-59.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.42 BBD 10.85
$5.85 BBD 11.69
-7.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.36 BBD 10.72
$2.49 BBD 4.98
115.26%
Potato (1kg)
$5.46 BBD 10.93
$4.05 BBD 8.10
34.81%
Onion (1kg)
$4.87 BBD 9.74
$3.02 BBD 6.04
61.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.86 BBD 5.72
$2.52 BBD 5.03
13.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.06 BBD 6.13
$2.48 BBD 4.97
23.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.43 BBD 14.87
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$16.05 BBD 32.10
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 BBD 3.46
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 BBD 5.68
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.74 BBD 3.47
$1.73 BBD 3.46
0.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.37 BBD 12.74
$29.99 BBD 60.0
-78.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.35 BBD 6.71
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.18 BBD 44.37
$39.96 BBD 79.9
-44.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 BBD 4.04
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.5K BBD 101.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K BBD 78.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 BBD 390
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.60 BBD 97.2
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.7 BBD 171
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.5 BBD 145
$73.8 BBD 148
-1.84%
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 BBD 20.11
$12.59 BBD 25.17
-20.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 BBD 529
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,273 BBD 12.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9 BBD 110
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.75 BBD 57.5
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 BBD 174
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 BBD 112
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$654 BBD 1,308
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$661 BBD 1,322
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 BBD 4,216
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 BBD 2,790
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,051 BBD 2,101
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.4
0
-

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

Last update for Barbados: April 26, 2026

Last update for Holetown: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $112 in Barbados vs $101 in Holetown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $349 per month, with Holetown 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 Holetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barbados and Holetown?
Barbados and Holetown differ by about 169% in total monthly costs ($1,951 vs $725 including rent). Holetown is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Barbados compared to Holetown?
You'd need roughly $2,927 in Barbados and $1,087 in Holetown to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Holetown – a meal for two runs $101 versus $112 in Barbados. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barbados or Holetown?
All in, you'll spend $1,951 per month in Barbados versus $725 in Holetown – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $725 in Holetown versus $1,951 in Barbados, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Holetown but tight or insufficient in Barbados. The gap between the two cities makes Holetown the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barbados and Holetown?
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.
Is Barbados or Holetown safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barbados and Holetown are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barbados or Holetown?
Expats usually find Holetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Barbados. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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