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 $663 in Bahamas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $1,157 in Bahamas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,071 in United States versus $1,650 in Bahamas.

Living in United States is roughly 299% more expensive than Bahamas on average.

United States (97% above) and Bahamas (50% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.23 $20.23
$30.14 BSD 30.14
-32.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 $74.3
$132 BSD 132
-43.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.29 $11.29
$11.32 BSD 11.32
-0.27%
Cappuccino
$5.12 $5.12
$5.53 BSD 5.53
-7.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.55 BSD 2.55
-0.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.00 BSD 2.00
6.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$5.04 BSD 5.04
15.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.01 BSD 7.01
-2.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$4.16 BSD 4.16
-75.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 $3.73
$4.82 BSD 4.82
-22.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.87 BSD 5.87
-23.17%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$7.63 BSD 7.63
-43.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 $13.16
$9.13 BSD 9.13
44.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$10.47 BSD 10.47
18.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.19 $16.19
$19.24 BSD 19.24
-15.85%
Apples (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$4.81 BSD 4.81
10.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$3.22 BSD 3.22
-46.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$4.81 BSD 4.81
-5.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$7.32 BSD 7.32
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.75 BSD 3.75
-23.47%
Onion (1kg)
$3.10 $3.10
$3.43 BSD 3.43
-9.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.05 BSD 3.05
-26.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.51 BSD 2.51
-9.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$13.61 BSD 13.61
-26.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$29.71 BSD 29.71
-48.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$3.92 BSD 3.92
-48.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$4.58 BSD 4.58
-23.14%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Bahamas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.54 BSD 1.54
66.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 $66.0
$45.63 BSD 45.63
44.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.74 $3.74
$4.60 BSD 4.60
-18.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$3.04 BSD 3.04
-44.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.03 $30.03
$98.1 BSD 98.1
-69.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.50 BSD 1.50
-38.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$37.9K BSD 37.9K
-20.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$39.7K BSD 39.7K
-34.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$249 BSD 249
-17.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.1 $57.1
$64.7 BSD 64.7
-11.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$97.6 BSD 97.6
-25.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.50 $46.50
$109 BSD 109
-57.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.07 $22.07
$61.0 BSD 61.0
-63.84%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14 $14.14
$17.93 BSD 17.93
-21.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$613 BSD 613
123.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$14.2K BSD 14.2K
60.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$59.3 BSD 59.3
-13.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.27 $42.27
$49.57 BSD 49.57
-14.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
$114 BSD 114
-21.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$116 BSD 116
-1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Bahamas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 $1,740
$1,305 BSD 1,305
33.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 $1,409
$1,292 BSD 1,292
9.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,912 $2,912
$3,527 BSD 3,527
-17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,377 $2,377
$3,378 BSD 3,378
-29.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,412 $3,412
$4,166 BSD 4,166
-18.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,669 $2,669
$3,323 BSD 3,323
-19.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Bahamas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$2,484 BSD 2,484
70.78%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Bahamas: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,635 in United States, $280 in Bahamas. Capital cities: $2,512 in Washington, DC vs $1,833 in Nassau.

National salary averages: $4,494 in United States, $2,214 in Bahamas. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 484% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 128% more in United States.

Public transport is 1150% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 103% higher in United States, giving Bahamas stronger purchasing power.

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 United States?
At $1,910 per month in Bahamas and $3,220 in United States, there's a 69% 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?
Bahamas is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 United States?
Rent in United States beats 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 works in regional areas but 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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