North America · Caribbean
Bahamas
The Bahamas is convenient for North Americans: a short flight from Florida, in similar time zones, English-speaking and with no income tax. Its former remote-work programme has been discontinued. Convenience is expensive. Nearly everything is imported, so daily costs are high even by Caribbean standards, with no real budget version of the islands. Safety varies by location: Nassau has a noticeably higher crime rate, while the Out Islands are calmer and closer to the postcard image, with patchier internet. The dry season from December to April avoids the hurricane risk.
Nomad quick facts
$3430/mo
$5490/mo
89.2 Mbps
1.95 (#99 of 190)
Moderate
Dec–Apr
Not available
66.2 / 100
Score breakdown
Beaches and clear water, English-speaking, close to the United States, no income tax.
Very high cost of living, crime in parts of Nassau, hurricane season, patchy internet on the Out Islands, no remote-work visa.
Cost of living in the Bahamas
The Bahamas is expensive by Caribbean standards, with accommodation, imported goods and tourism-related services driving up costs. Nassau has the widest range of housing and amenities but also some of the highest prices, particularly around major tourist areas. Longer-term residential rentals and local dining can offer better value, although the Bahamas remains a relatively high-cost island destination.
Estimated monthly cost
Single
$3,430/mo
Couple
$5,490/mo
Cost score inputs
Livingcost
38/100
WB PLI
110.7
Score blends a nomad-realistic monthly cost estimate (built from livingcost.org data, adjusted for short-term nomad spending like furnished housing, coworking, and eating out) with the World Bank's Household Consumption Price Level Index, a broader cross-country cost benchmark. Countries without World Bank price-level data are scored on the livingcost estimate alone. Prices displayed in USD.
The nomad cost estimate reflects a realistic single/couple monthly budget, not a bare local cost of living — actual spending still varies with lifestyle and location within a country.
Sources: livingcost.org · World Bank Household Consumption Price Level Index · Independent nomad cost estimates
Internet in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has enough download and upload capacity for smooth video calls and cloud work, with low latency for responsive connections; performance can still vary between Nassau and the smaller islands.
Download speed
89.2 Mbps
Upload speed
59.1 Mbps
Latency
26.1 ms
Blends download speed (Ookla Speedtest Global Index) with upload speed and latency (Cloudflare Radar). Speeds are scored between 10 Mbps (0) and 200 Mbps (100); latency counts the opposite way — lower is better. A missing metric doesn't penalize a country, it's scored on whatever data is available.
A national average — city and neighbourhood speeds vary, especially outside major hubs.
Get an eSIM for arrival →Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index · Cloudflare Radar
Safety in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has a mixed safety picture: Nassau has a notably higher crime rate than the rest of the country, while the Out Islands, including the Exumas and Harbour Island, are considerably calmer and more typical of the country's reputation.
Global safety rank
#99 of 190
Estimated safety score
1.95 (lower = safer; not covered by the Global Peace Index)
WJP Rule of Law rank
#68 of 143
WJP Rule of Law score
0.72 (higher = safer)
Blends three published safety indices: the Global Peace Index, the WJP Rule of Law Index (Order & Security factor), and the Gallup Global Law and Order Index. Places the Global Peace Index doesn't cover use our own estimate, based on regional peers and crime data. Each is rescaled 0-100 and combined with weights favoring GPI and Gallup slightly over WJP. Not every country is tracked by all three — the blend adjusts to whichever are available (weights are renormalized) rather than penalizing a country for a missing source, though a country tracked by fewer sources carries lower confidence.
As this is national average data, be aware that safety varies significantly by city and region within a country.
Get nomad insurance →Sources: Global Peace Index (Institute for Economics & Peace) · WJP Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) · Gallup Global Law and Order Index
Tourism & infrastructure in the Bahamas
Nassau offers infrastructure and a genuine expat community, while the Out Islands — Exuma's swimming pigs, pink-sand Harbour Island — offer a quieter, postcard-perfect alternative. Nearly everything here is imported, so this is a convenient but genuinely expensive base for North American nomads.
Within-city transit
Moderate
Between-city transit
Limited
Tropical; warm and sunny year-round with a wetter season May–Oct (hurricane season).
Best months: Dec–Apr
The Bahamas' transit centres on Nassau, where privately run 'jitney' buses cover New Providence island cheaply, though they stop by early evening and don't serve Paradise Island well. There is no rail. Travel between the many islands relies on ferries (including the fast Bahamas Ferries) and domestic flights. Downtown Nassau is walkable; elsewhere a car or taxi is needed.
A weighted blend of published indices: the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (weighted highest — the strongest predictor of appeal), Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, the World Happiness Report, Gallup's day-to-day enjoyment data, the EF English Proficiency Index, and a public transit assessment covering both within-city and between-city transport. Not every country is scored on all six — the blend adjusts to whichever are available rather than penalizing a country for a missing one.
Sources: WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index · Numbeo Quality of Life Index · World Happiness Report · Gallup · EF English Proficiency Index · Public transit assessment
Bahamas visa and entry rules for digital nomads
Tourist entry — USA passport
Visa-free — 90 days
Tourism Visa Note
Proof of onward or return travel and a completed arrival/immigration form are required, even without a visa.
Working remotely in the Bahamas on tourist entry
Staying longer
Extensions are available up to a maximum of 8 months. Source
Border runs and re-entry
For travellers arriving from the United States on an ESTA, time in The Bahamas counts toward the ESTA's 90 days. Source
Digital nomad visa
Closed — 'BEATS' remote-work program suspended in 2022
Visa and entry requirements can change. Check the latest information from official government sources before travelling; eligibility, documents and permitted activities depend on your nationality and personal circumstances.
Tax & residency in the Bahamas
Tax-residency timing
No general personal income-tax residence threshold identified; The Bahamas has no personal income tax
How the day count works
No general personal income tax residence day-count test identified; residence status for immigration, treaty or information-reporting purposes is separate.
Other residency triggers
No general personal income tax residence triggers identified because there is no personal income tax; other legal residence tests may apply for specific purposes.
Remote work before residence
Usually no. The Bahamas does not impose personal income tax on individuals, including on remote-work earnings; business, payroll or foreign-country obligations may still apply.
If you become tax resident
Not applicable to personal income tax; The Bahamas does not impose a general individual income tax.
What this usually means for nomads
A temporary stay in The Bahamas does not generally create local personal income tax on remote earnings because there is no individual income tax. This does not remove tax obligations elsewhere or other business and social-contribution rules. The way work is structured and tax ties to other countries remain relevant.
Tax rules can change and depend on your residency status, income structure, time spent in the country and applicable tax treaties. This information is general only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
Top cities for nomads in Bahamas
Nassau has the most services and the largest expat community, with high costs and more crime. Freeport on Grand Bahama is more relaxed and cheaper, and the Exumas and Harbour Island are quiet, scenic and thin on infrastructure.
Capital & largest; big expat community & most amenities, but high CoL, crowded & touristy.
Grand Bahama's hub; modern amenities, relaxed feel, cafes, lower CoL than Nassau.
Serene, picture-perfect beaches; swimming pigs & cays, but patchy internet/infra.
Chic pink-sand island off Eleuthera; boutique, laid-back, upscale.
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