HERE'S HOW FAR $100 WILL GET YOU IN THE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas is an expensive destination, and $100 is not enough to cover the costs of living there for a day.
The cost of living in the Bahamas is higher than in the United States, with consumer prices, rent, and restaurant prices being significantly more expensive.
Visiting the Bahamas during hurricane season (summer/fall) can help cut back on costs, as hotels, flights, and experiences are cheaper during this time.

The Bahamas is a popular vacation island located in the Caribbean Islands. It is visited by thousands of tourists yearly owing to its blue oceans and warm, sunny weather all year round. It is even one of the few countries one can visit on a day trip from the United States (there are day tours from cities like Miami, Florida, to and from the Bahamas: Nassau especially).

Staying in the Bahamas is not a cheap treat, which is why people mainly do not go at any time to visit this place unless they are wealthy. Going to the Bahamas also takes a considerable amount of planning and saving to enjoy the area to its fullest. Let’s see how much it costs to be in the Bahamas for a day as a tourist.

UPDATE: 2023/06/29 14:48 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Coming To The Bahamas During The Summer And Fall Might Cut Back On Costs

This article has been refreshed with new information regarding a budget for visiting the Bahamas. Because of the remote location, living or visiting the Bahamas can be more expensive than other islands. $100, although an attainable daily budget, may not be enough for all situations. A good idea is to come here during hurricane season (summer/fall), as hotels, flights, and experiences will be cheaper.

Quick Facts: The Cost Of Living In The Bahamas

The currency of the Bahamas is just about equivalent to that of the United States Dollar, so 1 BSD is equal to 1 USD. The overall cost of living in the Bahamas, when compared to the United States, is as follows:

Consumer prices are about 23% higher in the Bahamas than in the United States, excluding rent
Consumer prices with rent are about 10% higher in the Bahamas when compared to the United States
The cost of renting is lower in the Bahamas by 15% when compared to the United States rent
Eating at a restaurant is 29% more expensive in the Bahamas than in the United States Groceries in the Bahamas differ by 2.2% higher in the Bahamas than in the United States
The local purchasing power in the Bahamas is 57% lower in the Bahamas than in the United States

A person that wants to live in the Bahamas will need to be financially stable, as the cost of living exceeds the average in the United States. Generally speaking, the Bahamas is one of the most expensive countries to live in the world. According to the World Bank 2014 World Development Report, the Bahamas has a gross national income per capita of $21,280 USD. Although there are various employment opportunities for foreigners, the first priority is always given to Bahamian nationals, which makes it harder for foreigners to secure financial stability and career growth.

From a tourists perspective, who is not intending to permanently stay in the Bahamas, this is roughly how much they would be spending in a month (including one-day-only items) for necessities:

The Cost Of Food In The Bahamas

A meal combo at McDonald’s or a similar fast food restaurant - US$8
A cup of coffee – US$5
A liter of normal milk – US$3.5
One loaf of fresh-baked bread – US$4
One kilogram of the rice packet – US$4
A one-dozen carton of eggs – US$4
A kilogram of local cheese – US$7
Bottled water (1.5 liters) – US$2
A bottle of normal-range wine – US$18.50
Local beer – US$3
One packet of cigarettes – US$10

Additionally, if an individual prefers to dine at a restaurant, they must be prepared to spend about US$20 for cheaper local restaurants and a range between $80 - $150 for a three-course meal for two people and at a medium-range restaurant.

The Cost Of Transportation In The Bahamas

One liter of gasoline costs between US$1.43 to US$1.53 (fluctuating in these times) in the Bahamas, while a one-way local bus ticket costs US$1.50, and a normal monthly bus ticket costs between US$30 to US$156 depending on the type of bus and distance.

The Cost Of Personal Care In The Bahamas

Normal everyday essentials one might need during their visit:

Flu medication sufficient for 1 week - US$5.70
One box of antibiotics - US$23
A 15-minute visit to the doctor’s office - US$114
A box of tampons (32 per box) - US$8
Roll-on or deodorant - US$10
Hair shampoo - US$14
Four rolls of toilet paper - US$5.99
1 tube of toothpaste - US$8
Standard haircut for men - US$20

Totals - US$105.69

The Cost Of Entertainment In The Bahamas

In order to have fun, one might expect to spend the following for a basic amount of entertainment a tourist might wish to have:

Two movie tickets - US$60
One cocktail drink in a club downtown - US$24
Wi-Fi (128GB) - US$1198
One minute of prepaid mobile tariff with no discount plan set - US$0.73
One month of gym membership in a business area - US$112

Totals - US$1394.73

In times of today's inflation, expect all these prices to be higher by the time one goes there (or perhaps even reads this article).

So, Why Are The Bahamas So Expensive?

The Bahama's remote island location makes things harder to import and export.
The Bahamas does not have an income tax, so they rely on sales tax or VAT to support infrastructure.

The reason for the higher cost of living in the Bahamas is because the place is an island, which means they do not have their own factories to produce the goods they use within the country therefore, they import the majority of the goods they use. All these items are taxed and need to clear customs before they are allowed in the country, which significantly increases their value when compared to other countries. Adversely, the Bahamas does not have income tax like the United States, so the government makes its money through import tax and value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services offered by vendors.

How Far Can $100 Get You In The Bahamas?

Despite the fact that the American dollar is almost just equivalent to the Bahamian dollar, expenses in the Bahamas are extremely costly when compared.

What can you buy: For US$100, any person may be able to buy 10 gallons of milk, 20 gallons of gasoline, or about 14 combo meals from fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s.

A person who wants to go to the Bahamas should expect to spend about US$200 per day in order to live a medium comfortable life during their stay in the Bahamas. In this admired destination, US$100 will not get you very far. Spending this amount per day would put one in a situation where they are barely surviving, which can add stress to a carefree trip.

Those coming to the Bahamas should be aware that a daily budget for the islands typically runs around $100. Guests of the islands will be able to purchase everyday necessities and afford meals with this amount per day: although it might be better to budget for closer to $150-$200.

Cost Of Living In The Bahamas

So, in summary, according to Numbeo.com, the cost of living in The Bahamas is, on average, around 26% higher than in the United States (while the cost of rent is around 15% lower). Here are some selected items to give a greater indication of the average prices of typical expenses in The Bahamas on can expect.

Inexpensive Meal: $25.00 (Range $12.00-50.00)
McMeal: $8.00
0.5 Liter Domestic Beer: $4.00
0.33 Liter Imported Beer: $6.00
Cappuccino: $5.10
0.33 Liter Water: $2.06
Taxi: $2.33 Per Kilometer
Taxi One-Hour Waiting: $95.00
One-Bedroom Apartment: $1,000 Per Month

Relative to the United States (and especially NYC), most countries in the world are cheaper to visit and travel to (except for some countries like Switzerland and Israel). Countries in Southeast Asia, parts of Eastern Europe, and Central & South America can seem very cheap by comparison. But if one is looking for a cheap foreign country, then one may want to pass on The Bahamas.

What Is The Cheapest Time To Visit The Bahamas?

The cheapest time to visit the Bahamas is between August and November.
Traveling to the islands during hurricane season will be the cheapest option.

When it comes to the least expensive time to visit the Bahamas, this is typical during hurricane season. Because of looming weather conditions, flights, hotels, and experiences will all be far cheaper than usual. One thing to remember is that the Bahamas rely heavily on tourism. Therefore, during less desirable times, businesses will do almost anything to get people on the islands. That may be in the form of discounted hotel rates, cheap airfare, and bundled or discounted attractions and experiences throughout the Bahamas.

On top of that, the months of August, September, October, and November are some of the cheapest to visit the islands. There are also fewer people vacationing in the Bahamas during that timeframe, making this a more peaceful season to see them. It's recommended to purchase some type of travel insurance when coming to the Bahamas during peak hurricane season to ensure the trip is covered and can be rescheduled. One mistake tourists often make is failing to read the fine print in their cheaper booking, ultimately having to cancel because of unsafe conditions.

These are 14 things to know about hurricane season in the Bahamas.

If headed to the Bahamas during hurricane season, it's a good idea to purchase travel insurance. Flights, cruises, and hotels may be cheaper during this time, but there's a chance the weather will cause visitors to have to cancel their vacations. Without insurance, the money spent thus far may not be refunded.

Considering an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas may be another way to save money.

$100 Will Get One To The Bahamas

There are two main ways of getting to the Bahamas - by boat and by air. Many people visit the Bahamas by cruise, but another option is to take a ferry ride to the Bimini Islands close to Miami. This can be a fun day trip (or people can stay there overnight).

The cost of the ferry is from $99.00 per person one way plus taxes. So one will need to muster up a few more dollars to pay for the taxes. Additionally, $100 is the exact cost of an outside cabin for two on the ferry (inside cabins for two are half that at $50.00).

Ferry: From $99.00 Plus Taxes
Flights: From $71.00

It is actually cheaper to fly to the Bahamas. There are flights from Miami to the Bahamian capital of Nassau for as low as $71.

Flying from nearby US cities like Miami to Nassau can be a way to save money while traveling to the Bahamas. Generally, larger city connections are cheaper than remote destinations, as they are easier to get to.

So it would seem one can fly to the Bahamas or (almost) take a ferry to them for $100, but getting back is another story.

NEXT: Florida's Islands Are Cheaper Than The Bahamas (& Easier)

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