Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Bahamas Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Bahamas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,643 in United States versus $651 in Bahamas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $1,142 in Bahamas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,070 in United States versus $1,632 in Bahamas.

Living in United States is roughly 306% more expensive than in Bahamas on average.

United States (99% above) and Bahamas (51% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67 $19.67
$29.62 BSD 29.62
-33.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9 $73.9
$128 BSD 128
-42.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.35 $11.35
$11.71 BSD 11.71
-3.07%
Cappuccino
$5.15 $5.15
$5.66 BSD 5.66
-9.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.68 BSD 2.68
-5.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.07 BSD 2.07
3.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$4.96 BSD 4.96
23.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 $6.84
$7.05 BSD 7.05
-2.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$4.35 BSD 4.35
-76.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.77 BSD 4.77
-25.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$5.91 BSD 5.91
-21.15%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$7.84 BSD 7.84
-46.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.73 $12.73
$9.50 BSD 9.50
34.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.45 $12.45
$10.32 BSD 10.32
20.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.15 $16.15
$19.76 BSD 19.76
-18.27%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$4.74 BSD 4.74
8.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$3.22 BSD 3.22
-46.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.73 BSD 4.73
-2.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$6.99 BSD 6.99
-29.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.74 BSD 3.74
-19.52%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.44 BSD 3.44
-8.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$3.08 BSD 3.08
-26.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.49 BSD 2.49
-12.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$13.93 BSD 13.93
-27.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$28.98 BSD 28.98
-47.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$4.00 BSD 4.00
-49.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 $3.53
$4.64 BSD 4.64
-23.92%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Bahamas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.51 BSD 1.51
62.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 $65.3
$44.39 BSD 44.39
47.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 $3.73
$4.42 BSD 4.42
-15.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$3.10 BSD 3.10
-43.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.83 $29.83
$101 BSD 101
-70.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.44 BSD 1.44
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$37.3K BSD 37.3K
-20.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$39.2K BSD 39.2K
-33.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$256 BSD 256
-20.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.7 $56.7
$64.3 BSD 64.3
-11.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$96.8 BSD 96.8
-25.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.88 $45.88
$106 BSD 106
-56.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.70 $21.70
$59.2 BSD 59.2
-63.37%
Cinema Ticket
$13.96 $13.96
$18.16 BSD 18.16
-23.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,400 $1,400
$600 BSD 600
133.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$14.4K BSD 14.4K
59.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 $53.3
$60.1 BSD 60.1
-11.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.28 $42.28
$49.62 BSD 49.62
-14.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 $91.5
$112 BSD 112
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$114 BSD 114
0.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Bahamas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 $1,704
$1,340 BSD 1,340
27.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,454 $1,454
$1,278 BSD 1,278
13.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,933 $2,933
$3,544 BSD 3,544
-17.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,420 $2,420
$3,385 BSD 3,385
-28.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,366 $3,366
$4,256 BSD 4,256
-20.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,596 $2,596
$3,248 BSD 3,248
-20.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,392 $4,392
$2,619 BSD 2,619
67.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
9.04
-27.99%

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

Last update for United States: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bahamas: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,635 in United States, $281 in Bahamas. Capital cities: $2,575 in Washington, DC vs $1,847 in Nassau.

National salary averages: $4,499 in United States, $2,342 in Bahamas. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 482% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 135% more in United States.

Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 92% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Bahamas.

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
How does the cost of living in Bahamas compare to the cost in United States?
At $1,856 per month in Bahamas and $3,247 in United States, there's a 75% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do daily expenses compare in Bahamas vs United States?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Bahamas: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Is rent more expensive in Bahamas or in United States?
Rent in United States is consistently higher than in Bahamas across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Can you live in both Bahamas and United States on $2,000 per month?
In Bahamas, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Bahamas or United States?
It depends on what you're after: Bahamas wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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