Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Barbados and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $712 per month in Barbados vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,237 per month in Barbados vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Barbados vs $5,071 in United States, rent included.

Barbados is roughly 73% cheaper than United States on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Barbados sits 47% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,320–$5,119) than Barbados ($0–$1,988), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.15 BBD 40.30

$20.23 $20.23

-0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 BBD 196

$74.3 $74.3

31.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 BBD 20.38

$11.29 $11.29

-9.74%

Cappuccino

$4.87 BBD 9.75

$5.12 $5.12

-4.88%

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

$1.80 BBD 3.59

$2.54 $2.54

-29.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 BBD 2.66

$2.12 $2.12

-37.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 BBD 5.13

$5.84 $5.84

-55.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 BBD 7.89

$6.86 $6.86

-42.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.55 BBD 7.10

$1.03 $1.03

244.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 BBD 5.28

$3.73 $3.73

-29.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.96 BBD 7.92

$4.51 $4.51

-12.20%

Eggs

$5.47 BBD 10.95

$4.30 $4.30

27.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.85 BBD 15.71

$13.16 $13.16

-40.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.85 BBD 21.70

$12.40 $12.40

-12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 BBD 20.72

$16.19 $16.19

-36.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 BBD 8.33

$5.33 $5.33

-21.76%

Banana (1kg)

$3.17 BBD 6.34

$1.73 $1.73

83.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 BBD 10.11

$4.56 $4.56

10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 BBD 7.90

$4.88 $4.88

-19.06%

Potato (1kg)

$4.18 BBD 8.36

$2.87 $2.87

45.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 BBD 6.32

$3.10 $3.10

1.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 BBD 5.28

$2.24 $2.24

17.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 BBD 4.43

$2.26 $2.26

-1.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 BBD 15.78

$10.07 $10.07

-21.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.92 BBD 31.83

$15.27 $15.27

4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 BBD 3.50

$2.00 $2.00

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 BBD 5.91

$3.52 $3.52

-15.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 BBD 3.53

$2.57 $2.57

-31.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.91 BBD 49.82

$66.0 $66.0

-62.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$15.10 BBD 30.20

$3.74 $3.74

303.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 BBD 4.89

$1.70 $1.70

44.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.30 BBD 80.6

$30.03 $30.03

34.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 BBD 4.14

$0.93 $0.93

122.58%

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

$40.5K BBD 81.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

33.95%

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

$37.5K BBD 74.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

44.28%

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

$125 BBD 250

$206 $206

-39.47%

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

$49.94 BBD 99.9

$57.1 $57.1

-12.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 BBD 122

$73.2 $73.2

-16.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.4 BBD 147

$46.50 $46.50

57.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.07 $22.07

Cinema Ticket

$10.08 BBD 20.17

$14.14 $14.14

-28.71%

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

$262 BBD 525

$1,371 $1,371

-80.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,288 BBD 14.6K

$22.8K $22.8K

-67.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 BBD 113

$51.3 $51.3

9.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.76 BBD 77.5

$42.27 $42.27

-8.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 BBD 205

$89.9 $89.9

13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 BBD 185

$114 $114

-18.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$664 BBD 1,328

$1,740 $1,740

-61.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 BBD 1,082

$1,409 $1,409

-61.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,744 BBD 3,487

$2,912 $2,912

-40.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,219 BBD 2,438

$2,377 $2,377

-48.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,479 BBD 6,958

$3,412 $3,412

1.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,450 BBD 6,901

$2,669 $2,669

29.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,149 BBD 2,298

$4,242 $4,242

-72.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

6.51

-13.67%

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

Last update for Barbados: April 26, 2026

Last update for United States: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $198 in Barbados vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $583 in Bridgetown and $2,512 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $1,303 in Barbados vs $4,494 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 726% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 97% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 245% higher in United States, giving Barbados stronger purchasing power.

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 States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barbados is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 224% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Barbados, contributing to the overall 224% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Barbados, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.