🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in Holetown versus $1,954 in Barbados.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Holetown versus $3,210 in Barbados.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,043 in Holetown versus $4,465 in Barbados.
🙂Living in Holetown costs roughly 64% less than in Barbados, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Holetown is 47% below, Barbados is 47% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.58BBD 25.16
$20.32BBD 40.64
-38.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.6BBD 197
$114BBD 228
-13.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.73BBD 29.46
$10.18BBD 20.35
44.70%
Cappuccino
$4.40BBD 8.81
$4.39BBD 8.78
0.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53BBD 3.05
$2.07BBD 4.13
-26.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22BBD 2.45
$1.47BBD 2.93
-17.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02BBD 4.04
$3.03BBD 6.07
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97BBD 5.95
$4.01BBD 8.02
-25.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97BBD 3.94
$3.49BBD 6.99
-43.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26BBD 2.53
$2.59BBD 5.19
-51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.91BBD 7.82
$4.55BBD 9.10
-14.07%
Eggs
$7.01BBD 14.02
$5.80BBD 11.59
20.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.87BBD 23.74
$6.49BBD 12.97
82.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.25BBD 24.50
$13.17BBD 26.33
-6.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.48BBD 20.96
-
Apples(1kg)
$7.10BBD 14.21
$4.70BBD 9.40
51.06%
Banana(1kg)
$7.58BBD 15.16
$3.21BBD 6.41
136.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.05BBD 12.10
$5.43BBD 10.86
11.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55BBD 5.10
$5.46BBD 10.92
-53.30%
Potato(1kg)
$3.93BBD 7.87
$5.57BBD 11.14
-29.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91BBD 5.83
$4.92BBD 9.83
-40.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55BBD 5.10
$2.79BBD 5.58
-8.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44BBD 4.89
$2.91BBD 5.82
-16.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.68BBD 15.37
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.24BBD 32.49
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69BBD 3.38
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75BBD 5.50
-
🚌 Getting Around
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71BBD 3.43
$1.70BBD 3.41
0.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$29.50BBD 59.0
$6.21BBD 12.42
375.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.44BBD 6.89
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.56BBD 79.1
$22.24BBD 44.47
77.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$2.02BBD 4.04
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$49.3KBBD 98.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$40.4KBBD 80.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$192BBD 384
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$48.89BBD 97.8
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$85.7BBD 171
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.8BBD 150
$72.1BBD 144
3.66%
Cinema Ticket
$12.73BBD 25.46
$9.90BBD 19.79
28.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$266BBD 531
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,128BBD 12.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.4BBD 109
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.10BBD 56.2
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$88.8BBD 178
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$55.0BBD 110
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$661BBD 1,321
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$657BBD 1,315
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,129BBD 4,258
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,406BBD 2,812
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Holetown
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,309BBD 2,618
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
7.4
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Holetown: June 14, 2026
Last update for Barbados: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $99.0 in Holetown vs $114 in Barbados for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $430 per month, with Holetown cheaper across the board.
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
Holetown vs Barbados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Holetown and Barbados?
Holetown and Barbados differ by about 179% in total monthly costs ($700 vs $1,954 including rent). Holetown is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Holetown compared to Barbados?
You'd need roughly $1,050 in Holetown and $2,931 in Barbados 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Holetown – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $114 in Barbados. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Holetown or Barbados?
All in, you'll spend $700 per month in Holetown versus $1,954 in Barbados – a 179% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $700 in Holetown versus $1,954 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.
How does quality of life compare between Holetown and Barbados?
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.
Is Holetown or Barbados safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Holetown and Barbados are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Holetown or Barbados?
Expats usually find Holetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% less than in Barbados. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.