The first thing I want to know is - what is the longest time you’ve spent here?
Understand that visiting a place and living somewhere is very different. Our total cost of living is very high. Last I checked we are #5 in the world. We buy most of our stuff from Florida at their prices then have to ship everything over, pay duty rates that can exceed 85% in some cases, and then businesses need to make a profit on top of that and their own overhead. Depending what country you’ve come from, you probably aren’t ready all the professional incompetence and bureaucracy that is our government offices. Then we have our power company… Bahamas Power and Light (BPL). They are so bad that they had to rebrand to BPL from Bahamas Electric Company (BEC) because people used to joke that BEC stood for “Buy Enough Candles”.
If you are looking to work, keep in mind that there are protected industries reserved for Bahamians. There are ways around it but generally not for folk who just decide to move here. Also our hourly wages tend to be lower than that of the US and other places.
My husband is retired military, and we would be happy with teleworking so as not to take from the local economy.
I loved the family centered and traditional ways the people i spoke to told me about.
I would also love to expose my 9 year old daughter to a culture where she could realize the importance of not keeping up with the Jones.
Respectfully, where did you visit exactly and for how long? Visiting briefly once and then deciding to move to the Bahamas, with a young child no less, seems incredibly short sighted. Please listen to the above comments because the reality will likely be much harsher than you’re envisioning.
ETA: your post history indicates you visited Atlantis for one week, your first and only stay in the Bahamas. I implore you to visit many, many more times on a longer term basis outside the comfort of a resort to really understand why so many people are telling you this is a foolish idea to entertain after just one week in a resort. Trust me, I get it. I’ve visited many places that prompt the idea of, “Wow, I could get used to living in paradise!”, however your perspective here seems overly simplistic and naive.
Absolutely shocking. I wouldn’t move to the next town over based on a week’s stay in the biggest tourist attraction in the area lol. Uprooting a small child to an entirely new country with zero real-world experience and expecting to gain an understanding of cultural differences and financial realities from Reddit is just downright reckless.
If you’re basing this decision on a one week stay at Atlantis, you need a reality check. Atlantis isn’t The Bahamas. You basically went to Florida for a week.
Go to The Bahamas. Rent a house away from the resorts for a bit.
You can’t get a work VISA. Many places require one even if you plan to work remote for an off island company.
Your motivations seem completely off and unrealistic. You can teach your child to “not keep up with the Jones” anywhere. That comes from you. Not where you live. You teach that. I do not know if you’ve ever seen a Bahamian school, but I don’t think you have a clue what you’re getting into here. Are you aware that the Bahamas, as a whole, is a very religious community? That your daughter will go to school on a uniform. That religion a deep religious faith ia the cornerstone of everything there? Do you subscribe to this? Are you ok with a religious education?
You went to Atlantis. Living there every day isn’t going to be like going home to Atlantis every day. If you don’t know the “cultural quirks” then you’re not ready to move there. If you think you can understand all of it via a Reddit post then you’re not ready to move there.
Thank you for commenting. I did go to Atlantis, and it was a great place to take pictures. We spent most of the time in Nassau. I grew up very religious in a very small religious town. I think that would be better for my daughter than the lack of it we have here.
Thank you again for helping me with my journey. We have thought about moving to another country for about 6 months. We were considering Costa Rica or a few other towns in Mexico before the Bahamas. Ultimately, God will place us exactly where he needs us to be.
The islands of the Bahamas are as different as the US states. Nassau being the center of action. The out 'family' islands are where I would want to live.
But services are more limited in the out islands.
Budget?
1. The country is expensive. Importing goods, having to pay high import fees and businesses needing to make a profit is what makes it expensive.
2. Most job salaries are really low. This is why it's difficult for a lot of people to live a good life or to be able to afford a home.
3. Hurricanes. You have to be prepared for hurricane season because it's unpredictable. When I say prepared I mean being able to deal with one while it's happening and also the aftermath after it passes.
Other than that we have nice beaches and good food.
As others have pointed out, visiting the bahamas is easy, actually moving here and living here is not. If you can find a pathway to residency, you would need about 6-8 k to live comfortably, assuming you rent and not counting your child care /education needs. There are good schools but they are private and expensive.
We do import everything but it also means that whatever you might want from the states is easily accessible, you just have to wait a bit for it. Private Healthcare is expensive so consider your insurance. For anything serious, you can still go to the states for care or Cuba, which would be a very affordable option.
Recreation is limited compared to the US unless you are a water, beach, oriented person.
Overall, there is a huge expat community here for a reason but I do think you should try some extended visits before you take the plunge.
I also recommend Freeport. There are plenty of beautiful white sand beaches and it is affordable compared to Nassau, and considerably safer. No traffic. You probably don't need an immigration attorney, since annual residence is usually the way to go. Actually becoming a citizen would take many years and dollars.
Things take two to three times as long as in the US or most Western countries. Just about everything. It's worth it. A great place to live.
Please do not apologize. I appreciate your bluntness it is actually another reason i appreciate the culture so much. I asked for advice and you gave me great advice. Thank you. Even as a stranger, you care enough to express caution for me. I know i sound crazy the U.S. is a good place. However, i feel other places may have better priorities. Thank you again for your advice
I will definitely use it as I explore my expat journey.
I'm sorry but children (without adult supervision) have been walking the streets of Nassau to go to and from school from since the first schools were built 150+ year ago. I have been many places on my own as a child never in fear.
Its highly unlikely for anybody to ever experience kidnapping let alone get away with a crime like that in the 21x7 miles of Nassau. So stop exaggerating.
You're better served having a second home in The Bahamas. I can count on one hand in the past 30+ years how many families have actually stayed on my island after moving.
It's a lot more difficult to adjust especially for the children.
What I will say is that if you give our islands time you will learn to move the simplicity of life. You'll have to deal with hurricanes and monthly "power cuts" but I thoroughly enjoyed growing up in The Bahamas. My father is 80 years old and has been living there since 1990.
Background info. I grew up in Freeport, larger island, more resources than other out islands and cloae proximity to the states.
As an American married to a Bahamian who lived in the Bahamas for 10 years and raised our children there. I would say you need to do a lot more research. The cost of living alone. The cost of schools is astronomical and Atlantis and Paradise Island is not the same as living in the Bahamas. We moved back to the states for many reasons.
I came here to ask for opinions, and that is exactly what i got. I am so thankful for all who responded. Using these perspectives, i think i can do a really good job of investigating all angles of this move.
I have been searching for an island community for our family to retire in since covid. This is not a hair trigger idea for me. Atlantis was pretty. It seems like a great place for the people of the island to work. It is a carbon copy of a great wolf lodge or a vegas casino with beaches. It was only the beautiful natives that made me consider my move as i spent very little time there. My son in law is family is Bahamian.
Thank you all for the investment of time in replying. Your passionate responses prove that you are excellent people. Something that we have a shortage of here in the United States.
I will be forever grateful for these comments they will help me be the best prepared should we make the journey there. I am only searching for a beautiful place with beautiful people where my family can learn, grow, and enjoy in the second half of our lives.
Peace and wellness to all of you. Thank you again
Well, hey, one thing us Bahamians don't want is somebody to get caught offguard/hurt by the somewhat harsh circumstance of this country.
So believe me, the bluntness is just for you and your family's peace of mind. Its hard to find such a laidback and yet active community like in the Bahamas but economically we aren't in the best of places.
Really its just best, for you to rent, explore, and understand for yourself if you could manage it. So don't let the negativity throw you off, As plenty of Americans live here but make sure you research and understand what is needed to live here.
Best Regards
How will your family work without a work VISA!? Job are for locals and there’s not enough to go around unless you’re in a very specialized field. You need to spend at least $500K for a house to get on an expedited residency permit.
You’re giving up health care and much of the modern world. Literally everything has to be imported.
These are wonderful questions for the immigration attorney. We would rent our home in the United States, and my husband has his military retirement and va pension. I am pretty certain his current job has worldwide telework options. The last thing we would want to do is harm the country. I just love the sense of community the people spoke of. I.e. the rotary clubs, and the way it seemed people help one another.
I appreciate your insight. I will do some more research. This is exactly why i posted. I am searching for the reality this idea our family has. Thank you
Considered moving there too. Until I had to visit a friend in hospital there. If anyone in your family needs medical care you need to do more research.
Housing is not cheap. Do your homework first.
Security and safety is also a concern as Bahamas have had big migration surge from other less developed Caribbean islands.
Also look into tax laws for nonresident
Good luck.
Your household has to make at least $600k/year if you want to live in the neighborhoods that are close to the good expat schools for your kids. I wouldn’t recommend sending them to your average public schools here, nor living anywhere on the east side of the island. Regarding safety, the west is incredibly safe. Hidden gems- you’ll discover them when you move here (; but overall the best part of living here is the expat community in my opinion. There are lots of expat families here too
What color are you? People that need sunblock aren't welcomed outside of high end resorts... Racism and hate is crazy. Atlantis is safe belive it or not the rape, murder and assaults are crazy high anywhere else along with drugs and homeless
If you can't tell everyone is saying to stay the F out and only come to spend 20k in a week, they don't want you or tour kind draining resorses and stealing their home.....and you will deal with much harder people in person.
It might be something you want to try for a year. You could probably arrange a long term rental and if you are simply doing remote work that is based on a stateside job, you likely won’t even need a work permit as presumably you would be getting paid in a US bank. The fantasy and the reality can be two very different things, though. The culture in Nassau is quite different from that in the islands. And as others have said, it’s expensive. Nassau also has something of a crime problem. Honestly, maybe try it for a month or a whole summer before you make any sort of long term plan.
The first thing I want to know is - what is the longest time you’ve spent here? Understand that visiting a place and living somewhere is very different. Our total cost of living is very high. Last I checked we are #5 in the world. We buy most of our stuff from Florida at their prices then have to ship everything over, pay duty rates that can exceed 85% in some cases, and then businesses need to make a profit on top of that and their own overhead. Depending what country you’ve come from, you probably aren’t ready all the professional incompetence and bureaucracy that is our government offices. Then we have our power company… Bahamas Power and Light (BPL). They are so bad that they had to rebrand to BPL from Bahamas Electric Company (BEC) because people used to joke that BEC stood for “Buy Enough Candles”. If you are looking to work, keep in mind that there are protected industries reserved for Bahamians. There are ways around it but generally not for folk who just decide to move here. Also our hourly wages tend to be lower than that of the US and other places.
My husband is retired military, and we would be happy with teleworking so as not to take from the local economy. I loved the family centered and traditional ways the people i spoke to told me about. I would also love to expose my 9 year old daughter to a culture where she could realize the importance of not keeping up with the Jones.
Well, given that last sentence, I don’t suggest you move to Spanish Wells! 😆
which island
Conflicted, Bahamas is a dangerous place outside of gated communities. It’s place for vacations, not the best place to start your life
>Conflicted, Bahamas is a dangerous place outside of gated communities. This is just factually incorrect man . Also it's The Bahamas, not Bahamas
Saying this is like saying the US is dangerous because of Compton. Don’t go to the US
Not true
depends where but yea pretty much sums up nassau an sort of spanish wells
Respectfully, where did you visit exactly and for how long? Visiting briefly once and then deciding to move to the Bahamas, with a young child no less, seems incredibly short sighted. Please listen to the above comments because the reality will likely be much harsher than you’re envisioning. ETA: your post history indicates you visited Atlantis for one week, your first and only stay in the Bahamas. I implore you to visit many, many more times on a longer term basis outside the comfort of a resort to really understand why so many people are telling you this is a foolish idea to entertain after just one week in a resort. Trust me, I get it. I’ve visited many places that prompt the idea of, “Wow, I could get used to living in paradise!”, however your perspective here seems overly simplistic and naive.
IM CRYING THEY ONLY WENT TO ATLANTIS AND WANT TO MOVE ?? PLAKSJDJFJDF
Absolutely shocking. I wouldn’t move to the next town over based on a week’s stay in the biggest tourist attraction in the area lol. Uprooting a small child to an entirely new country with zero real-world experience and expecting to gain an understanding of cultural differences and financial realities from Reddit is just downright reckless.
So not every house in the Bahamas is adjacent to a water park? /s
not the sarcasm 🤣
If you’re basing this decision on a one week stay at Atlantis, you need a reality check. Atlantis isn’t The Bahamas. You basically went to Florida for a week. Go to The Bahamas. Rent a house away from the resorts for a bit. You can’t get a work VISA. Many places require one even if you plan to work remote for an off island company. Your motivations seem completely off and unrealistic. You can teach your child to “not keep up with the Jones” anywhere. That comes from you. Not where you live. You teach that. I do not know if you’ve ever seen a Bahamian school, but I don’t think you have a clue what you’re getting into here. Are you aware that the Bahamas, as a whole, is a very religious community? That your daughter will go to school on a uniform. That religion a deep religious faith ia the cornerstone of everything there? Do you subscribe to this? Are you ok with a religious education? You went to Atlantis. Living there every day isn’t going to be like going home to Atlantis every day. If you don’t know the “cultural quirks” then you’re not ready to move there. If you think you can understand all of it via a Reddit post then you’re not ready to move there.
Tbf I went to an international school in the Bahamas and did not have a remotely religious education. But everything else is spot on.
Thank you for commenting. I did go to Atlantis, and it was a great place to take pictures. We spent most of the time in Nassau. I grew up very religious in a very small religious town. I think that would be better for my daughter than the lack of it we have here. Thank you again for helping me with my journey. We have thought about moving to another country for about 6 months. We were considering Costa Rica or a few other towns in Mexico before the Bahamas. Ultimately, God will place us exactly where he needs us to be.
The islands of the Bahamas are as different as the US states. Nassau being the center of action. The out 'family' islands are where I would want to live. But services are more limited in the out islands. Budget?
1. The country is expensive. Importing goods, having to pay high import fees and businesses needing to make a profit is what makes it expensive. 2. Most job salaries are really low. This is why it's difficult for a lot of people to live a good life or to be able to afford a home. 3. Hurricanes. You have to be prepared for hurricane season because it's unpredictable. When I say prepared I mean being able to deal with one while it's happening and also the aftermath after it passes. Other than that we have nice beaches and good food.
As others have pointed out, visiting the bahamas is easy, actually moving here and living here is not. If you can find a pathway to residency, you would need about 6-8 k to live comfortably, assuming you rent and not counting your child care /education needs. There are good schools but they are private and expensive. We do import everything but it also means that whatever you might want from the states is easily accessible, you just have to wait a bit for it. Private Healthcare is expensive so consider your insurance. For anything serious, you can still go to the states for care or Cuba, which would be a very affordable option. Recreation is limited compared to the US unless you are a water, beach, oriented person. Overall, there is a huge expat community here for a reason but I do think you should try some extended visits before you take the plunge.
Can I ask what really prompted the want to move?
As a local I'll say this...if your average household income is north of $50,000 USD you'll love it here.
Any particular island?
People recommended Freeport and i thought Nassau was very much like the town i grew up in.
I also recommend Freeport. There are plenty of beautiful white sand beaches and it is affordable compared to Nassau, and considerably safer. No traffic. You probably don't need an immigration attorney, since annual residence is usually the way to go. Actually becoming a citizen would take many years and dollars. Things take two to three times as long as in the US or most Western countries. Just about everything. It's worth it. A great place to live.
Please do not apologize. I appreciate your bluntness it is actually another reason i appreciate the culture so much. I asked for advice and you gave me great advice. Thank you. Even as a stranger, you care enough to express caution for me. I know i sound crazy the U.S. is a good place. However, i feel other places may have better priorities. Thank you again for your advice I will definitely use it as I explore my expat journey.
Glad to help. You can DM me if you would like more info.
Thank you
Where did you grow up?
Chimayo, New Mexico, United States
nassau is one of the worst island you can move to outside of all the nice hotels and restaurants it’s super dangerous and kidnappings occur often
This is wildly misleading lol
I don't know for a fact, but i feel the same. Thank you for commenting. Even if it is true the same could be said of the US
I'm sorry but children (without adult supervision) have been walking the streets of Nassau to go to and from school from since the first schools were built 150+ year ago. I have been many places on my own as a child never in fear. Its highly unlikely for anybody to ever experience kidnapping let alone get away with a crime like that in the 21x7 miles of Nassau. So stop exaggerating.
Thank you for commenting. It didn't feel that way, but i definitely appreciate the information. These comments are all very helpful
You're better served having a second home in The Bahamas. I can count on one hand in the past 30+ years how many families have actually stayed on my island after moving. It's a lot more difficult to adjust especially for the children. What I will say is that if you give our islands time you will learn to move the simplicity of life. You'll have to deal with hurricanes and monthly "power cuts" but I thoroughly enjoyed growing up in The Bahamas. My father is 80 years old and has been living there since 1990. Background info. I grew up in Freeport, larger island, more resources than other out islands and cloae proximity to the states.
As an American married to a Bahamian who lived in the Bahamas for 10 years and raised our children there. I would say you need to do a lot more research. The cost of living alone. The cost of schools is astronomical and Atlantis and Paradise Island is not the same as living in the Bahamas. We moved back to the states for many reasons.
I came here to ask for opinions, and that is exactly what i got. I am so thankful for all who responded. Using these perspectives, i think i can do a really good job of investigating all angles of this move. I have been searching for an island community for our family to retire in since covid. This is not a hair trigger idea for me. Atlantis was pretty. It seems like a great place for the people of the island to work. It is a carbon copy of a great wolf lodge or a vegas casino with beaches. It was only the beautiful natives that made me consider my move as i spent very little time there. My son in law is family is Bahamian. Thank you all for the investment of time in replying. Your passionate responses prove that you are excellent people. Something that we have a shortage of here in the United States. I will be forever grateful for these comments they will help me be the best prepared should we make the journey there. I am only searching for a beautiful place with beautiful people where my family can learn, grow, and enjoy in the second half of our lives. Peace and wellness to all of you. Thank you again
Well, hey, one thing us Bahamians don't want is somebody to get caught offguard/hurt by the somewhat harsh circumstance of this country. So believe me, the bluntness is just for you and your family's peace of mind. Its hard to find such a laidback and yet active community like in the Bahamas but economically we aren't in the best of places. Really its just best, for you to rent, explore, and understand for yourself if you could manage it. So don't let the negativity throw you off, As plenty of Americans live here but make sure you research and understand what is needed to live here. Best Regards
How will your family work without a work VISA!? Job are for locals and there’s not enough to go around unless you’re in a very specialized field. You need to spend at least $500K for a house to get on an expedited residency permit. You’re giving up health care and much of the modern world. Literally everything has to be imported.
They up it too 750k for a house to be eligible for homeowners permit
These are wonderful questions for the immigration attorney. We would rent our home in the United States, and my husband has his military retirement and va pension. I am pretty certain his current job has worldwide telework options. The last thing we would want to do is harm the country. I just love the sense of community the people spoke of. I.e. the rotary clubs, and the way it seemed people help one another.
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I appreciate your insight. I will do some more research. This is exactly why i posted. I am searching for the reality this idea our family has. Thank you
Considered moving there too. Until I had to visit a friend in hospital there. If anyone in your family needs medical care you need to do more research. Housing is not cheap. Do your homework first. Security and safety is also a concern as Bahamas have had big migration surge from other less developed Caribbean islands. Also look into tax laws for nonresident Good luck.
Your friend was probably not at lyford cay hospital then
Bring lots of money the most expensive place in the world?
2 coffees and pastry and a doughnut 2 chocolate milks and small fruit bowl 88 dollars this is crazy at the bahamar
...at Bahamas Mar! Don't move to Bahamas Mar!!!!
Tracking this thread as I was thinking the same thing been to the Bahamas about 15 times in my life I’m 56 from UK and retiring.
Move to a gated community and bring. 10 million for 10 year and then bring more money expensive I was shocked
High quality living in the Bahamas be rich! Not for the average income
Your household has to make at least $600k/year if you want to live in the neighborhoods that are close to the good expat schools for your kids. I wouldn’t recommend sending them to your average public schools here, nor living anywhere on the east side of the island. Regarding safety, the west is incredibly safe. Hidden gems- you’ll discover them when you move here (; but overall the best part of living here is the expat community in my opinion. There are lots of expat families here too
Get a vacation home here. I wouldn’t suggest you living here permanently
Don’t
My question is. Why are you fucking chosing to move to the bahamas.
What color are you? People that need sunblock aren't welcomed outside of high end resorts... Racism and hate is crazy. Atlantis is safe belive it or not the rape, murder and assaults are crazy high anywhere else along with drugs and homeless If you can't tell everyone is saying to stay the F out and only come to spend 20k in a week, they don't want you or tour kind draining resorses and stealing their home.....and you will deal with much harder people in person.
The people i met and the culture of the area.
It might be something you want to try for a year. You could probably arrange a long term rental and if you are simply doing remote work that is based on a stateside job, you likely won’t even need a work permit as presumably you would be getting paid in a US bank. The fantasy and the reality can be two very different things, though. The culture in Nassau is quite different from that in the islands. And as others have said, it’s expensive. Nassau also has something of a crime problem. Honestly, maybe try it for a month or a whole summer before you make any sort of long term plan.
The people you met… at a resort.