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 $703 per month in Barbados vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,229 per month in Barbados vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,754 per month in Barbados vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Barbados is roughly 73% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Barbados sits 47% below the global median, while United States is 99% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.94 BBD 39.87

$19.67 $19.67

1.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 BBD 198

$73.9 $73.9

34.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 BBD 20.34

$11.35 $11.35

-10.40%

Cappuccino

$4.96 BBD 9.92

$5.15 $5.15

-3.69%

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

$1.83 BBD 3.65

$2.54 $2.54

-27.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 BBD 2.80

$2.14 $2.14

-34.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 BBD 5.07

$6.13 $6.13

-58.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 BBD 8.07

$6.84 $6.84

-40.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.47 BBD 6.94

$1.04 $1.04

233.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 BBD 5.32

$3.54 $3.54

-24.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.10 BBD 8.20

$4.66 $4.66

-12.02%

Eggs

$5.67 BBD 11.33

$4.20 $4.20

35.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 BBD 15.93

$12.73 $12.73

-37.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.21 BBD 22.43

$12.45 $12.45

-9.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 BBD 20.65

$16.15 $16.15

-36.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.13 BBD 8.26

$5.16 $5.16

-19.96%

Banana (1kg)

$3.23 BBD 6.45

$1.72 $1.72

87.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 BBD 10.00

$4.61 $4.61

8.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 BBD 8.18

$4.95 $4.95

-17.37%

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 BBD 8.17

$3.01 $3.01

35.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 BBD 6.43

$3.16 $3.16

1.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 BBD 5.16

$2.25 $2.25

14.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 BBD 4.56

$2.19 $2.19

4.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.11 BBD 16.21

$10.07 $10.07

-19.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.72 BBD 31.44

$15.26 $15.26

3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 BBD 3.51

$2.01 $2.01

-12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 BBD 5.66

$3.53 $3.53

-19.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 BBD 3.53

$2.45 $2.45

-28.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.07 BBD 50.1

$65.3 $65.3

-61.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$14.72 BBD 29.43

$3.73 $3.73

294.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.43 BBD 4.86

$1.76 $1.76

38.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.59 BBD 81.2

$29.83 $29.83

36.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 BBD 3.98

$0.96 $0.96

107.29%

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

$40.1K BBD 80.2K

$29.5K $29.5K

35.73%

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

$37.2K BBD 74.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

41.71%

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

$126 BBD 253

$204 $204

-38.08%

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

$49.14 BBD 98.3

$56.7 $56.7

-13.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 BBD 119

$71.7 $71.7

-17.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.3 BBD 147

$45.88 $45.88

59.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.70 $21.70

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 BBD 20.21

$13.96 $13.96

-27.65%

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

$269 BBD 537

$1,400 $1,400

-80.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,536 BBD 15.1K

$23.0K $23.0K

-67.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 BBD 115

$53.3 $53.3

7.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.97 BBD 75.9

$42.28 $42.28

-10.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 BBD 205

$91.5 $91.5

12.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 BBD 181

$114 $114

-20.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 BBD 1,358

$1,704 $1,704

-60.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 BBD 1,103

$1,454 $1,454

-62.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 BBD 3,458

$2,933 $2,933

-41.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 BBD 2,418

$2,420 $2,420

-50.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,544 BBD 7,088

$3,366 $3,366

5.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,470 BBD 6,940

$2,596 $2,596

33.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,274 BBD 2,547

$4,392 $4,392

-71.01%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for United States: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $197 in Barbados vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $599 in Bridgetown and $2,575 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $1,464 in Barbados vs $4,499 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 730% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 97% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 207% higher in United States, 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 States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barbados is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 229% 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 229% 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.