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