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: $1,811 in Barbados versus $340 in Holetown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,098 in Barbados versus $761 in Holetown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,386 in Barbados versus $1,182 in Holetown.

Living in Barbados is roughly 433% more expensive than in Holetown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barbados is 31% above, Holetown is 75% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.44 BBD 50.9

$12.42 BBD 24.84

104.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 BBD 226

$98.2 BBD 196

14.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 BBD 25.17

$14.78 BBD 29.55

-14.82%

Cappuccino

$4.66 BBD 9.32

$4.57 BBD 9.15

1.97%

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

$2.17 BBD 4.34

$1.51 BBD 3.02

43.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 BBD 3.53

$1.28 BBD 2.56

38.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 BBD 6.08

$1.95 BBD 3.89

55.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 BBD 8.23

$3.09 BBD 6.17

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.60 BBD 7.19

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 BBD 5.38

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.03 BBD 8.07

Eggs

$5.88 BBD 11.75

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.50 BBD 13.01

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.14 BBD 20.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.28 BBD 22.56

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 BBD 9.94

Banana (1kg)

$4.29 BBD 8.58

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 BBD 11.03

Tomato (1kg)

$5.69 BBD 11.38

Potato (1kg)

$6.93 BBD 13.86

Onion (1kg)

$4.81 BBD 9.61

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 BBD 5.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 BBD 5.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 BBD 13.64

Wine (Bottle)

$15.93 BBD 31.85

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 BBD 3.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 BBD 5.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 BBD 3.46

$1.70 BBD 3.41

1.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 BBD 9.97

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.38 BBD 6.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.97 BBD 3.95

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

$49.8K BBD 99.5K

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

$40.7K BBD 81.4K

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

$98.7 BBD 197

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

$49.27 BBD 98.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.3 BBD 175

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.9 BBD 150

$79.2 BBD 158

-5.45%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 BBD 17.38

$12.62 BBD 25.24

-31.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,345 BBD 12.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.44 BBD 92.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.61 BBD 39.23

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 BBD 123

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 BBD 1,347

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 BBD 1,308

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,861 BBD 3,723

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,465 BBD 6,929

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,326 BBD 2,652

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Barbados: September 7, 2026

Last update for Holetown: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $113 in Barbados vs $98.0 in Holetown for two.

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

Barbados and Holetown differ by about 433% in total monthly costs ($1,811 vs $340 including rent). Holetown is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,717 in Barbados and $510 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Holetown – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $113 in Barbados. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,811 per month in Barbados versus $340 in Holetown – a 433% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $340 in Holetown versus $1,811 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.

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 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.

Expats usually find Holetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 433% less than in Barbados. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.