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: $1,898 in Barbados versus $706 in Holetown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,102 in Barbados versus $1,377 in Holetown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,306 in Barbados versus $2,049 in Holetown.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Barbados is 43% above, Holetown is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 BBD 40.20
$12.72 BBD 25.44
58.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 BBD 223
$98.9 BBD 198
12.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.20 BBD 20.41
$15.02 BBD 30.03
-32.09%
Cappuccino
$4.35 BBD 8.69
$4.63 BBD 9.27
-6.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 BBD 4.11
$1.49 BBD 2.97
37.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 BBD 2.97
$1.27 BBD 2.54
17.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 BBD 5.89
$1.97 BBD 3.93
49.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 BBD 7.90
$3.03 BBD 6.06
30.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.54 BBD 7.08
$1.96 BBD 3.92
80.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 BBD 5.18
$1.26 BBD 2.52
105.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.63 BBD 9.26
$4.10 BBD 8.20
12.93%
Eggs
$5.82 BBD 11.65
$6.96 BBD 13.92
-16.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.56 BBD 13.11
$11.90 BBD 23.81
-44.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 BBD 26.57
$12.55 BBD 25.10
5.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.42 BBD 20.85
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.61 BBD 9.21
$7.10 BBD 14.20
-35.07%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 BBD 6.11
$7.67 BBD 15.35
-60.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.25 BBD 10.50
$6.05 BBD 12.11
-13.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.40 BBD 10.80
$2.55 BBD 5.10
111.76%
Potato (1kg)
$5.64 BBD 11.28
$3.91 BBD 7.83
44.25%
Onion (1kg)
$4.88 BBD 9.77
$2.95 BBD 5.91
65.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.84 BBD 5.68
$2.47 BBD 4.94
14.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.02 BBD 6.03
$2.48 BBD 4.96
21.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.41 BBD 14.83
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$16.18 BBD 32.37
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 BBD 3.39
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 BBD 5.76
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 BBD 3.56
$1.77 BBD 3.53
0.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.40 BBD 12.80
$29.56 BBD 59.1
-78.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 BBD 6.66
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.24 BBD 44.48
$40.30 BBD 80.6
-44.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 BBD 4.00
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.0K BBD 98.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K BBD 80.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 BBD 384
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.96 BBD 97.9
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.8 BBD 176
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.6 BBD 147
$73.5 BBD 147
0.10%
Cinema Ticket
$10.16 BBD 20.32
$12.38 BBD 24.76
-17.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$263 BBD 526
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,195 BBD 12.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 BBD 110
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.15 BBD 56.3
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 BBD 173
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.9 BBD 110
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$657 BBD 1,314
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 BBD 1,319
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 BBD 4,217
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 BBD 2,818
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barbados
Holetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,341 BBD 2,683
-
-
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Holetown: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $112 in Barbados vs $99.0 in Holetown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $431 vs $351 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 in Holetown?
Barbados and Holetown differ by about 169% in total monthly costs ($1,898 vs $706 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 $2,848 in Barbados and $1,059 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 $99.0 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 $1,898 per month in Barbados versus $706 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 $706 in Holetown versus $1,898 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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