Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and Oistins Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and Oistins

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,898 in Barbados versus $1,157 in Oistins.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,102 in Barbados versus $1,708 in Oistins.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,306 in Barbados versus $2,259 in Oistins.

Living in Barbados is roughly 64% more expensive than in Oistins, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barbados is 43% above, Oistins is 13% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 BBD 40.20

$19.92 BBD 39.84

0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 BBD 223

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 BBD 20.41

Cappuccino

$4.35 BBD 8.69

$6.03 BBD 12.05

-27.86%

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

$2.05 BBD 4.11

$1.23 BBD 2.46

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 BBD 2.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 BBD 5.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 BBD 7.90

Milk (1 liter)

$3.54 BBD 7.08

$2.96 BBD 5.93

19.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 BBD 5.18

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.63 BBD 9.26

Eggs

$5.82 BBD 11.65

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.56 BBD 13.11

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.28 BBD 26.57

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.42 BBD 20.85

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 BBD 9.21

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 BBD 6.11

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 BBD 10.50

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 BBD 10.80

Potato (1kg)

$5.64 BBD 11.28

Onion (1kg)

$4.88 BBD 9.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 BBD 5.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 BBD 6.03

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 BBD 3.56

$1.77 BBD 3.55

0.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 BBD 12.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 BBD 6.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.24 BBD 44.48

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.00 BBD 4.00

$1.92 BBD 3.85

4.17%

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

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

$48.40 BBD 96.8

81.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 BBD 147

$49.04 BBD 98.1

50.04%

Cinema Ticket

$10.16 BBD 20.32

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$263 BBD 526

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 BBD 110

$49.20 BBD 98.4

12.20%

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

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 BBD 1,314

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 BBD 1,319

$740 BBD 1,481

-10.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 BBD 4,217

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 BBD 2,818

$1,504 BBD 3,009

-6.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,341 BBD 2,683

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.4

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

Last update for Barbados: July 26, 2026

Last update for Oistins: July 27, 2026

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 Oistins: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barbados and Oistins differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,898 vs $1,157 including rent). Oistins is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,848 in Barbados and $1,735 in Oistins 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1353% higher in Barbados. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,898 per month in Barbados versus $1,157 in Oistins – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,157 in Oistins versus $1,898 in Barbados, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Oistins but tight or insufficient in Barbados. The gap between the two cities makes Oistins 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 Oistins 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 Oistins gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Barbados. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.