How to Move to The Bahamas: A Few Tips Before Taking the Plunge
by Mariah Moyle
When considering moving abroad, each country’s logistical pathway to entry is going to be slightly different. The Bahamas are fairly uncomplicated to pick up and move to, especially if you maintain a reasonably funded bank account. With full-service, populated communities, to quiet, laid-back islands all within close proximity to the US (less than an hour flight from Miami to Nassau, and three hours from NYC), a stable economy, and an endless summer, who wouldn’t want to pack up and move to the Bahamas?
Perhaps you were fortunate enough to land a job in the Bahamas and are bringing your family here, or maybe you are looking at purchasing a home and working remotely from your computer. Maybe you’re retired and just want a peaceful, and somewhat safe and stable place to while away your golden years, swaying in your hammock, sipping your rum cocktail and watching the sun sink into the ocean each night.
Whatever your reasons for moving to this stunning archipelago are, you’ll want to consider a few things when planning your relocation.
Cost of living
Be prepared for prices of everything to be much more than you are used to, unless you are coming from Switzerland or Bermuda. The Bahamas is ranked the third most expensive country in the world after the two aforementioned countries. Cost of living comparison charts show the Bahamas to be 20%-50% more expensive than many US cities and towns, but fairly on par with large-scale international cities. However, keep in mind that we don’t have income tax, so if you are making a decent salary either in the Bahamas or through your home country with a strong economy, it can end up equalling out.
A standard lunchtime meal is $18 (whether it’s local Bahamian fare or healthy cafe items), a quart of milk is $5, and a dozen eggs is $6. Wine is $15 for a “cheap” bottle, and around $32 for a wine you may be used to paying $14-$16 for in the US. A case of local beer is $50-$60.
I have no idea what prices are in the rest of the world, so I don’t have much to compare these numbers to; perhaps this is high, or perhaps it’s normal if you live in a big city and shop at boutique grocery stores. At retail establishments, 10% VAT will be built into the listed price. VAT is charged on all goods and services.
Average rental prices in Nassau for a nice 3-bedroom home in a gated community located in a desirable area close to shopping and good schools would start at $6000 per month. You can find condos and residences outside of gated communities for slightly less, but don’t expect to find much of anything luxe and liveable for under $3000 per month.
Be prepared to start over
Shipping your personal effects to the Bahamas is going to cost a lot. Then if/when you were to leave, you will likely have to leave things behind because it’s simply not cost-effective to ship them out again. Most homes, whether you are renting or buying, will come furnished anyway. If you have precious items, heirlooms, or irreplaceables, consider getting a temperature-controlled storage unit wherever “home” is. Storage facilities in the Bahamas are extremely limited. If you decide after several years that the Bahamas is your forever home, then you can consider importing those important things here.
Consider international medical insurance
You can get local insurance that only covers you in the Bahamas, but you’ll probably want to consider having coverage elsewhere in the world. For example, we have local providers with the option to pay extra for coverage in the US, so you can see specialists and are covered for major medical emergencies. The hospitals and medical services are good in Nassau, but if you have a medical emergency or diagnosis, you might want to be transported to the US for specialists and top care. If you reside in the Out Islands, where there are limited options for medical and emergency care in general, it will be in your best interest to head directly to Miami and skip Nassau altogether.
Bring your pet along
Certain countries have long quarantine processes and are difficult to import animals into. I’ve heard of families begrudgingly re-homing their beloved pet(s) because it was going to be too difficult and too stressful on the animal to consider bringing them along when they moved abroad.
Luckily, the Bahamas has no quarantine requirements, so as long as your animal is up-to-date with their shots and doesn’t have rabies or any other illness, they are free and clear to travel with you as long as you go through the correct veterinary proceedings. Visit the Importing Pets page for more information.
Get an unlocked or dual SIM cell phone
There are a few options when considering your cell phone coverage. Some carriers have reasonably priced international plans, so you might just stick with your international cell phone number, especially if you plan on traveling back to the US or Canada frequently. On newer phones that have eSIM options, you can get a local plan and operate in conjunction with your international number. But just make sure your phone isn’t locked to your carrier. You can buy an unlocked cell phone directly from the manufacturer. Otherwise, there are two carriers in the Bahamas (BTC and Aliv) and you’ll be able to buy a SIM and/or a cell phone, and sign up for a pre-paid or post-paid plan.
If you decide you want to go fully Bahamian with your phone, consider the cost of service if you frequently travel abroad. It can be quite expensive since the local carriers don’t have great international plan options. If you are the type of person who is dependent on data when you travel (who isn’t these days?), then your international roaming fees might give you an early-onset heart attack when you get your next cell phone bill.
Sign up for a ghost IP/VPN
Many banking sites, YouTube videos, Pandora music, and even Netflix will have limited or blocked access to foreign IP addresses. We’ve used StrongVPN and NordVPN over the years so that we have access to all of our websites as if we are in the USA (or England, or Canada, or whichever country you choose). You either log into the account on your computer, or you can set up a specialized router so that your WiFi network is on the VPN system. You’d be surprised how often you’ll use it to access content that you didn’t realize you couldn’t get here.
Banks
Oh, how do I even begin to prepare the newbie island dweller for the mental insanity of banks in the Bahamas? These banks will do your head in. And it’s not just me. Bring up banking at a cocktail party and you’ll get an earful of horror stories from anyone who has ever stepped foot inside a Bahamian bank. You’ll want to continue using your first world bank if at all possible.
Bring your specialty items with you
Items you may normally take for granted by being able to instantly Amazon Prime-deliver to your doorstep may not be as readily available in the Bahamas. Things like face creams, hair products, supplements, fancy pet food, and any number of other items that we have become accustomed to in the land of plenty, just go ahead and wrap your head around the fact that it’s almost 99% unlikely that you’ll be able to just go to the shopping mall and purchase it (especially in the Out Islands). Pack an extra suitcase and fill it with all of your favorite personal items.
Set up an account with a freight forwarding company
An alternative option to packing a year’s supply of your favorite shampoo is to sign up with a local freight forwarding company. Numerous companies in Nassau and throughout the Out Islands will handle the delivery of your package from their base in the US (usually Miami or Ft. Lauderdale) to their location in the Bahamas. In some instances, they can deliver right to your door.
Once your package is delivered to a freight forwarder, it will generally be in the Bahamas within the next week. Depending on the company, you may pay for a membership or you may pay per package. When importing, expect to pay double what the item costs you. The costs include a brokerage fee, VAT, shipping, and duty on the item. Make sure you have an idea of what the rate of duty will be before you place your order. For example, supplements have a low rate of duty, but pet supplies are high. Sometimes it can be a shock at how expensive it can be to bring in a small $20 item if there’s a $30 brokerage fee, 10% VAT, 45% duty and $25 for shipping.
Most of us islanders plan for a few heavy shopping trips to Miami each year so we can load our suitcases up and take advantage of the tax exemptions. Residents are allowed two exemptions of $300 in value per year. That rate continues to go up as inflation rises. (Note: purchasing a small luggage-weighing apparatus is clutch. We are pros at packing our bags to get the most out of our 50lb weight limit)
Make sure your spouse is on board
The biggest challenge with families who move to the Bahamas is making sure your spouse or partner is able to assimilate into the community. If you come to the Bahamas on a work permit, your spouse will be allowed to accompany you, but will not necessarily have the right to work. If you are a homeowner, you can apply for a residency card, but again, it doesn’t grant the right to work.
Often, the accompanying spouse becomes the lead parent or stay-at-home mom/dad. This can be lonely and frustrating, and rock fever is bound to quickly run rampant within said spouse’s stay-at-home head. Please remember that there are plenty of ways to be social and active in the community without going out and getting a job while the kids are at school. Consider volunteering in any number of avenues – sports coaching, pet shelters, churches, tutoring & mentoring, music lessons, etc. There are endless opportunities if you are willing to donate your time without taking an income. You’ll make new friends and enjoy your time on the island so much more if you take the time to get involved.
Connect with groups, reach out for information
Connect with ExpatBAHAMAS, KnowlesKnows, and of course, right here at Out Island Life on our Facebook and Instagram pages for information on how to move to the Bahamas. You’ll find you can get most of your questions answered prior to your move by joining these types of social media groups. If you’re serious, pick up a copy of Escape to the Bahamas relocation guide, which has all of the information you’ll need for planning your move.
Considering relocating, investing, or building in the Bahamas?
Our team at PanCaribbean Consulting Group helps international clients with
property acquisition, development, and relocation strategy.
Reach out to us for more information, or visit the PanCaribbean Consulting Group website
