🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,157 in Oistins versus $1,898 in Barbados.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Oistins versus $3,102 in Barbados.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in Oistins versus $4,306 in Barbados.
🌍Living in Oistins costs roughly 39% less than in Barbados, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oistins is 13% below, Barbados is 43% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92BBD 39.84
$20.10BBD 40.20
-0.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$112BBD 223
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.20BBD 20.41
-
Cappuccino
$6.03BBD 12.05
$4.35BBD 8.69
38.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23BBD 2.46
$2.05BBD 4.11
-40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.49BBD 2.97
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.94BBD 5.89
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.95BBD 7.90
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.96BBD 5.93
$3.54BBD 7.08
-16.38%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.59BBD 5.18
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$4.63BBD 9.26
-
Eggs
-
$5.82BBD 11.65
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$6.56BBD 13.11
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$13.28BBD 26.57
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.42BBD 20.85
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$4.61BBD 9.21
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$3.05BBD 6.11
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$5.25BBD 10.50
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$5.40BBD 10.80
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$5.64BBD 11.28
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$4.88BBD 9.77
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$2.84BBD 5.68
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.02BBD 6.03
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.41BBD 14.83
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.18BBD 32.37
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69BBD 3.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88BBD 5.76
-
🚌 Getting Around
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77BBD 3.55
$1.78BBD 3.56
-0.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.40BBD 12.80
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.33BBD 6.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$22.24BBD 44.48
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92BBD 3.85
$2.00BBD 4.00
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$49.0KBBD 98.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$40.1KBBD 80.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oistins
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)
-
$48.96BBD 97.9
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.40BBD 96.8
$87.8BBD 176
-44.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.04BBD 98.1
$73.6BBD 147
-33.35%
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.16BBD 20.32
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$263BBD 526
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.20BBD 98.4
$55.2BBD 110
-10.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.15BBD 56.3
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.7BBD 173
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$54.9BBD 110
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$657BBD 1,314
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$740BBD 1,481
$660BBD 1,319
12.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,109BBD 4,217
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,504BBD 3,009
$1,409BBD 2,818
6.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,341BBD 2,683
-
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 Oistins: July 27, 2026
Last update for Barbados: July 26, 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
Oistins vs Barbados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oistins and in Barbados?
Oistins and Barbados differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,157 vs $1,898 including rent). Oistins is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Oistins compared to Barbados?
You'd need roughly $1,735 in Oistins and $2,848 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 grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1353% higher in Barbados. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Oistins or Barbados?
All in, you'll spend $1,157 per month in Oistins versus $1,898 in Barbados – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Oistins 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 Oistins or Barbados safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oistins 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: Oistins or Barbados?
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.