Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and the Bahamas

Name: Bahamas
Address: BS

For one person, living is cheaper in the United States: $2,734 a month against $3,377 in the Bahamas, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

131

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
161

Cost of Living Index in the Bahamas
Learn more

Bahamas Living Index

Jump to prices

🇺🇸 United States

$2,734

/mo nomad

🇧🇸 Bahamas

$3,377

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in the Bahamas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in the Bahamas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,734 in the United States versus $3,377 in the Bahamas.

United States $2,734
Bahamas $3,377

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in the United States versus $5,923 in the Bahamas.

United States $3,985
Bahamas $5,923

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,235 in the United States versus $8,469 in the Bahamas.

United States $5,235
Bahamas $8,469

The United States ($979–$5,160) and the Bahamas ($27–$4,294) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Living in the United States costs about 19% less than in the Bahamas on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: the United States 101% above, the Bahamas 148% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.03 $20.03

$49.01 BSD 49.01

-59.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 $80.0

$162 BSD 162

-50.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.80 $11.80

$11.84 BSD 11.84

-0.34%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$5.46 BSD 5.46

1.65%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$3.16 BSD 3.16

-15.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.98 BSD 1.98

9.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$4.89 BSD 4.89

25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$8.14 BSD 8.14

-2.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$4.09 BSD 4.09

-74.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$5.38 BSD 5.38

-33.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$6.18 BSD 6.18

-26.86%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$8.58 BSD 8.58

-50.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 $13.22

$12.69 BSD 12.69

4.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 $12.60

$12.59 BSD 12.59

0.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$17.12 BSD 17.12

2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$7.20 BSD 7.20

-26.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$3.83 BSD 3.83

-55.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$6.62 BSD 6.62

-32.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$9.96 BSD 9.96

-52.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.13 BSD 3.13

-5.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.66 BSD 3.66

-13.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$4.42 BSD 4.42

-50.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.77 BSD 2.77

-15.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.98 $10.98

$14.92 BSD 14.92

-26.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$28.55 BSD 28.55

-47.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$4.62 BSD 4.62

-55.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.11 BSD 4.11

-7.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.13 BSD 2.13

-8.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 $59.4

$152 BSD 152

-60.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$7.79 BSD 7.79

-54.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.97 BSD 2.97

-36.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.84 $29.84

$76.0 BSD 76.0

-60.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.52 BSD 1.52

-32.89%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$38.2K BSD 38.2K

-24.70%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$41.5K BSD 41.5K

-36.81%

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

$218 $218

$315 BSD 315

-30.73%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$63.1 BSD 63.1

-0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$101 BSD 101

-26.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.86 $41.86

$113 BSD 113

-63.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.81 $22.81

$46.06 BSD 46.06

-50.48%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$18.95 BSD 18.95

-22.43%

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

$1,489 $1,489

$942 BSD 942

58.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$15.4K BSD 15.4K

64.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$54.0 BSD 54.0

0.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 $42.71

$84.2 BSD 84.2

-49.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 $94.1

$113 BSD 113

-16.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$108 BSD 108

5.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,659 $1,659

$1,089 BSD 1,089

52.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$1,251 BSD 1,251

7.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,682 $2,682

$3,554 BSD 3,554

-24.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,169 $2,169

$3,509 BSD 3,509

-38.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,283 $3,283

$6,035 BSD 6,035

-45.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,482 $2,482

$3,429 BSD 3,429

-27.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,296 $4,296

$2,474 BSD 2,474

73.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

11.82

-44.59%

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

Last update for the United States: October 25, 2026

Last update for the Bahamas: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 49.3%

Bahamas

$1.3K 37% 7.2% $97

Groceries & Markets

United States

$415 15.2%

Bahamas

$597 17.7% 43.8% $182

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$355 13%

Bahamas

$479 14.2% 34.9% $124

Eating Out

United States

$328 12%

Bahamas

$554 16.4% 69% $226

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5%

Bahamas

$162 4.8% 18% $25

Getting Around

United States

$80 2.9%

Bahamas

$183 5.4% 128% $103

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$71 2.6%

Bahamas

$151 4.5% 112% $80

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,620 in the United States, $1,140 in the Bahamas. Capital cities: $2,768 in Washington, DC vs $1,495 in Nassau.

National salary averages: $4,549 in the United States, $2,211 in the Bahamas. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 42% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 101% more in the Bahamas.

Public transport is 137% more expensive in the Bahamas.

Salaries are about 2.1 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇧🇸 Bahamas

🕒 Local time

21:37 9:37 PM

Same time as the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

399,440

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Bahamian Dollar BSD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

1 BSD = 1 USD

1 BSD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BSD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇧🇸 Bahamian Dollar ($)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Bahamian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BSD (1 BSD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BSD (1 BSD = 0.892 EUR).

BSD to USD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

United States Bahamas 1,490 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

United States
Bahamas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

United States vs Bahamas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $3,377 per month in the Bahamas and $2,734 in the United States, the United States comes out about 19% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in the United States: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

In the United States, $4,000 covers most cities easily; in the Bahamas it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you’re after: the United States wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.