🙂A single person spends $587 per month in Barbados vs $2,401 in United Kingdom, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,090 per month in Barbados vs $3,517 in United Kingdom, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,593 per month in Barbados vs $4,632 in United Kingdom, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Barbados is roughly 76% lower than in United Kingdom on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Barbados sits 57% below the global median, while United Kingdom is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.41BBD 44.82
$21.78£16.28
2.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101BBD 203
$86.7£64.8
16.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86BBD 19.72
$11.00£8.22
-10.36%
Cappuccino
$5.01BBD 10.02
$4.79£3.58
4.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88BBD 3.77
$2.60£1.94
-27.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40BBD 2.80
$1.83£1.37
-23.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57BBD 5.13
$6.60£4.93
-61.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09BBD 8.18
$6.83£5.10
-40.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.58BBD 7.16
$1.73£1.30
106.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.94BBD 5.89
$1.73£1.29
69.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00BBD 7.99
$2.26£1.69
76.99%
Eggs
$5.65BBD 11.31
$4.12£3.08
37.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62BBD 15.24
$9.52£7.11
-19.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.36BBD 20.71
$9.42£7.04
9.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.81BBD 19.62
$14.83£11.08
-33.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.79BBD 9.59
$3.10£2.32
54.52%
Banana(1kg)
$3.43BBD 6.86
$1.69£1.26
102.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.96BBD 11.92
$2.88£2.15
106.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.61BBD 13.23
$3.36£2.51
96.73%
Potato(1kg)
$5.44BBD 10.87
$1.85£1.38
194.05%
Onion(1kg)
$3.91BBD 7.83
$1.57£1.17
149.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69BBD 5.38
$1.26£0.94
113.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57BBD 5.13
$1.70£1.27
51.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03BBD 18.05
$23.75£17.75
-61.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.80BBD 31.61
$10.95£8.18
44.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93BBD 3.86
$2.95£2.21
-34.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06BBD 6.11
$3.46£2.58
-11.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.80BBD 3.60
$3.34£2.50
-46.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.38BBD 26.76
$106£78.9
-87.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.34BBD 18.68
$5.44£4.06
71.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.91BBD 5.82
$2.29£1.71
27.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.86BBD 79.7
$26.80£20.03
48.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09BBD 4.18
$1.96£1.47
6.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KBBD 75.5K
$39.2K£29.3K
-3.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KBBD 76.1K
$40.9K£30.6K
-7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171BBD 343
$328£245
-47.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.2BBD 100
$18.19£13.60
175.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.7BBD 157
$43.01£32.14
82.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.8BBD 156
$46.44£34.70
67.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.15£13.56
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.20BBD 20.39
$13.61£10.17
-25.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$1,773£1,325
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,027BBD 10.1K
$23.4K£17.5K
-78.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0BBD 102
$92.7£69.3
-44.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62BBD 79.3
$46.67£34.88
-15.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1BBD 194
$103£76.9
-5.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9BBD 144
$101£75.7
-28.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$868BBD 1,737
$1,372£1,025
-36.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$837BBD 1,674
$1,111£830
-24.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,819BBD 3,638
$2,206£1,648
-17.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,017BBD 4,033
$1,808£1,351
11.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,480BBD 6,960
$5,687£4,250
-38.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,489BBD 6,978
$4,425£3,307
-21.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barbados
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,477BBD 2,954
$3,419£2,555
-56.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.39
5.33
57.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barbados: September 13, 2026
Last update for United Kingdom: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $248 in Barbados vs $1,274 in United Kingdom. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,196 in Bridgetown and $2,976 in London.
💰Average salary: $2,046 in Barbados vs $3,281 in United Kingdom. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 414% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 110% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 4200% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 60% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Barbados.
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 United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Barbados and United Kingdom compare in cost of living?
Barbados is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 112% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Barbados and United Kingdom?
Housing costs more in United Kingdom, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United Kingdom consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Barbados or United Kingdom?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Barbados, contributing to the overall 112% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $3,000 go in Barbados compared to United Kingdom?
$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Barbados, but in United Kingdom it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Barbados and in United Kingdom?
Barbados is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.