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