🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,156 in Oistins versus $1,951 in Barbados.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,719 in Oistins versus $3,145 in Barbados.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,281 in Oistins versus $4,338 in Barbados.
🙂Living in Oistins costs roughly 41% less than in Barbados, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oistins is 14% below, Barbados is 46% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.68BBD 39.36
$20.29BBD 40.58
-3.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$112BBD 224
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.42BBD 20.83
-
Cappuccino
$5.84BBD 11.67
$4.51BBD 9.02
29.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28BBD 2.57
$2.04BBD 4.08
-37.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.42BBD 2.85
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.08BBD 6.15
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.94BBD 7.89
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.94BBD 5.87
$3.66BBD 7.32
-19.67%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.67BBD 5.34
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$4.58BBD 9.15
-
Eggs
-
$6.08BBD 12.17
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$6.85BBD 13.69
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$13.09BBD 26.17
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.32BBD 20.64
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$4.74BBD 9.48
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$3.04BBD 6.08
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$5.42BBD 10.85
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$5.36BBD 10.72
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$5.46BBD 10.93
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$4.87BBD 9.74
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$2.86BBD 5.72
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.06BBD 6.13
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.43BBD 14.87
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.05BBD 32.10
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73BBD 3.46
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84BBD 5.68
-
🚌 Getting Around
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.74BBD 3.48
$1.74BBD 3.47
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.37BBD 12.74
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.35BBD 6.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$22.18BBD 44.37
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94BBD 3.88
$2.02BBD 4.04
-3.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$50.5KBBD 101.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$39.3KBBD 78.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$195BBD 390
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$48.60BBD 97.2
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.98BBD 94.0
$85.7BBD 171
-45.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9BBD 102
$72.5BBD 145
-29.81%
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.05BBD 20.11
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$264BBD 529
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0BBD 102
$54.9BBD 110
-7.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.75BBD 57.5
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.9BBD 174
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$56.0BBD 112
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$654BBD 1,308
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$752BBD 1,504
$661BBD 1,322
13.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,108BBD 4,216
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,497BBD 2,993
$1,395BBD 2,790
7.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oistins
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,051BBD 2,101
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Barbados: April 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 Barbados?
Oistins and Barbados differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($1,156 vs $1,951 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 $2,927 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 1379% 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 $1,156 per month in Oistins versus $1,951 in Barbados – a 69% 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 $1,156 in Oistins versus $1,951 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 69% less than in Barbados. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.