Expat life in Nassau Bahamas

[Anonymous]

We may be considering a potential job opportunity in Nassau, Bahamas. HHI would be at least $260,000. My understanding is with COL and the need for private schools, this could be very tight.

Anyone else BTDT? We’re up for the adventure, but still would like to maintain our current quality of life we have here at $200K.

[Anonymous]

Very tight. The car tax alone is almost the price of a car! I wouldn't do it. Crime has gotten bad there.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't live in a place like that, especially with young kids. I think that you will soon discover that everything is an inconvenience and super expensive.

[Anonymous]

Check International cost of living calculator.
It seems DC is about 30% more expensive than Nassau.
International primary school seems to be around 14k vs 30k for DC
With salary increases and cheaper than DC you should be okay.

[Anonymous]

I get it that it is an island and importing things can be expensive. OTOH, everyone there is poor and they still have money to eat and have housing (albeit old and small). Are they just eating rice and beans or are native Bahamians getting some kind of govt subsidy?

[Anonymous]

I can't even imagine it. It's so small, isolated. People are poor or rich. And in terms of weather/climate it's like Florida but much much more inconvenient for everything.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you don’t have an expat package w/medical, schools, comp %differential?

where will you need to commute?
If doable, can you consider Eleuthera?

[Anonymous]

Harlem with palm trees.

[Anonymous]

I would not do it. If you insist you need to negotiate a better deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you don’t have an expat package w/medical, schools, comp %differential?

where will you need to commute?
If doable, can you consider Eleuthera?

This. I’d need an expat package to move anywhere abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harlem with palm trees.

Why do you say that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harlem with palm trees.

Why do you say that?

Rude and racist. Many of the islands are poor. They rely on tourism. It’s nice in the winter but summers are horrible. Most goods are imported, so most things are more expensive.

[Anonymous]

You wouldn’t live in Nassau itself, you’d be in one of the gated communities and drive into Nassau for work. Those range from ultra exclusive and expensive (out of your price range I think) to much less expensive and amenities like pools, etc will range as well. But you can get a nice house in a nice community, not super high end, for under $1m. Food, car, etc all of that is more expensive than here but the lifestyle - beach every day, watersports, golf if you like that, is very chill

[Anonymous]

I’ve been on cruises that stop in Nassau and won’t even get off the ship. Place is a cesspool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been on cruises that stop in Nassau and won’t even get off the ship. Place is a cesspool.

Funny—I like Nassau, but think a cruise ship is a cesspool.