Bermuda Cost of Living: Rent, Food, Salary and Real Numbers
Bermuda is one of the most expensive places in the world to live. That is not a marketing line, it is what every credible cost-of-living comparison shows year after year. If you are considering a move to Bermuda for work, weighing a salary offer, or just wondering whether the island is in reach, the short answer is that everyday costs run roughly double what they do in the United States and even higher compared to most of Europe.
The detail behind that statement is what this guide covers. I have lived alongside this market for over fifteen years through my work on this site, talking with expats who moved here and ones who turned offers down.
Bermuda's Pastel Houses (Photo: Raj Bhattacharya)
Below are the current numbers, updated to 2026, the reasons costs are so high, and a realistic picture of what a salary needs to look like to make the move work.
Is Bermuda expensive?
Yes, by every credible measure. According to Numbeo's current data, the cost of living in Bermuda is approximately 90 percent higher than in the United States when measured on day-to-day spending without rent, and roughly 110 percent higher once rent is included.
Rent specifically runs about 150 percent more than the US average. Compared to Germany, the cost of living is about 95 percent higher, with rent over 350 percent higher. Compared to the UK, Bermuda's capital Hamilton is only marginally less expensive than London, in some categories more.
Bermuda has consistently ranked among the top five most expensive places in the world on cost-of-living indexes for the last decade. For most of 2020 and 2021 it ranked first globally on Numbeo's index. Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Bermuda routinely trade the top spots. Wherever Bermuda sits in any given year, it is well above the United States, Canada and the UK.
A simple rule of thumb: whatever you spend monthly back home in the US, Canada, or UK, expect to spend roughly double in Bermuda for an equivalent lifestyle. If you keep your spending tight (cook at home, share housing, use buses rather than a private vehicle), you might bring that down. If you eat out, drink, run a car, and live in central Hamilton, you will spend more.
Bermuda's population and why density matters
Bermuda has approximately 63,000 to 64,000 residents living on just 21 square miles of land. That works out to around 3,000 people per square mile, one of the highest population densities in the world. Roughly 79 percent of the population is Bermudian, with about 21 percent being non-Bermudian residents on work permits.
Why this matters for cost of living: the island has very limited land, almost no agriculture beyond a few vegetables, and no significant local manufacturing. Almost everything is imported, mostly from the United States, mostly by ship. That structural fact drives most of the prices below.
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Why is Bermuda so expensive?
The reasons matter because they tell you what is unlikely to change.
Customs duties on imports. Import duty is one of the Bermuda government's largest sources of revenue. Duties average around 25 to 35 percent of retail value across a wide range of goods, with some categories taxed considerably higher (sugary products, alcohol, tobacco, vehicles). This duty is built into the price of virtually everything you buy.
Near-total reliance on imports. Bermuda produces only a small fraction of its own food, fuel, building materials, or consumer goods. Almost all of it is shipped in weekly, primarily from the US. Each shipment carries freight cost on top of the underlying product price, and the freight cost shows up in your grocery bill.
High land prices and limited housing supply. With 21 square miles of land and roughly 64,000 people, residential property is genuinely scarce. New construction is constrained by zoning, environmental rules, and the simple fact that there is not much land left to build on. The result is rents that compete with major US cities despite Bermuda having no major city.
Energy costs. Electricity in Bermuda is generated almost entirely by imported fuel oil and supplied by a single regulated utility, BELCO. Rates are several times what you would pay in the US or Canada, and a fuel surcharge moves with the world oil price. Cooking gas (LPG) is similarly imported and priced.
Health and labor costs. Healthcare is private, with mandatory health insurance. Doctor visits, prescription medications, and dental care all run well above US levels. Service-sector wages are higher than most developed countries reflect the cost of living locally, which in turn keeps service prices high.
These structural costs are stable. Inflation in Bermuda tracks broadly with US inflation, but the level remains roughly twice US levels regardless.
Apartment rent in Bermuda
Rent is the single biggest cost on the island and the one most likely to surprise you. Current 2025-2026 monthly rates, in US dollars (the Bermuda dollar is pegged 1 to 1 with the USD):
One-bedroom apartment in or near Hamilton: approximately 2,500 to 3,500 per month for a decent unit. Some places run as low as 2,000 for a smaller or less central unit, and a desirable 1BR in the city core can be 3,500 or more.
One-bedroom apartment outside Hamilton (Paget, Warwick, Pembroke residential): approximately 1,800 to 2,500 per month.
Two-bedroom apartment in Hamilton: approximately 3,500 to 4,500 per month.
Two-bedroom apartment outside Hamilton: approximately 2,800 to 3,500 per month.
Three-bedroom apartment in Hamilton: approximately 5,500 to 7,000 per month.
Three-bedroom apartment outside Hamilton: approximately 4,000 to 5,500 per month.
Ocean-facing house with private garden and pool: 12,000 to over 20,000 per month, depending on size and location.
Most rentals do not include utilities. You will pay separately for electricity, water, internet, and cable. Furnished units are available, particularly in the corporate rental market, at a premium of roughly 20 to 40 percent over unfurnished.
A common rule of thumb among local expats: keep your rent to 30 percent of your gross monthly salary. With Bermuda's rents, that single rule shapes the salary required to live comfortably.
As an expatriate you cannot buy property in Bermuda except in exceptional cases (typically requiring a Bermudian spouse, or restricted to the top-tier properties at very high prices). Renting is essentially the only option for non-Bermudians.
Food and grocery prices in Bermuda
Expect groceries to cost roughly 50 to 100 percent more than in the United States for equivalent items. Current 2025-2026 prices at Hamilton supermarkets in US dollars:
Milk, 1 litre: approximately 3.80
Eggs, 12: approximately 7.00
Bread, 500g loaf: approximately 6.80
Rice, 1kg: approximately 5.50
Boneless chicken breast, 1kg: approximately 18 to 22
Beef, 1kg: approximately 28 to 35
Apples, 1kg: approximately 9 to 10
Oranges, 1kg: approximately 10 to 13
Bananas, 1kg: approximately 6
Potatoes, 1kg: approximately 6
Onions, 1kg: approximately 4.50
Tomatoes, 1kg: approximately 10
Lettuce, 1 head: approximately 5.50
Local cheese, 1kg: approximately 13
Water, 1.5 litre bottle: approximately 3.25
Domestic beer, 500ml: approximately 4.70
Bottle of mid-range wine: approximately 24
Cigarettes run around 15 to 18 per pack, partly because of high tobacco import duty.
Where you shop matters. Lindo's, the MarketPlace, Miles Market, and Supermart all stock essentially the same imported groceries at broadly similar prices. Smaller corner shops and local markets are typically more expensive. The container ship from the US arrives weekly, so produce quality varies depending on how recently the shipment landed.
Transport costs
You cannot buy more than one car per household in Bermuda, and as a visitor you cannot rent a car at all. As an expat resident you can buy a vehicle, but the cost is steep.
A new mid-size car: typically 35,000 to 50,000, roughly double US prices, due to import duty.
Annual vehicle license fee: approximately 500 for a mid-size car, up to 1,000 for larger vehicles.
Mandatory vehicle insurance: 1,500 to 2,500 per year.
Petrol: approximately 2.30 per litre, equivalent to roughly 8.70 per US gallon, about three times current US prices.
Most expats skip a car and use scooters, electric Twizys, or the bus and ferry system. The public transport monthly pass is around 70, daily passes are 19 for an adult, and individual tickets are 5 a ride. Taxis are abundant but expensive: expect 20 to 30 for typical short trips, more from the airport.
Utilities, internet, and household services
Monthly costs for a typical 85 square meter apartment, in US dollars:
Basic utilities (electricity, water, garbage): approximately 250 to 350 in winter, 350 to 500 in summer when air conditioning runs.
Internet (60 Mbps unlimited): approximately 130 to 150.
Mobile phone monthly plan: approximately 60 to 100 depending on data allowance.
Cooking gas (LPG): well above US prices, roughly three times.
Hourly rate for cleaning help: approximately 30 to 40.
Electricity is the variable that hurts most. A typical air-conditioned three-bedroom house in summer can rack up 600 to 1,000 a month on BELCO alone. Conservation, programmable thermostats, and accepting warmer indoor temperatures will save real money.
Healthcare costs
Healthcare in Bermuda is private, with insurance required for residents. Monthly insurance premiums vary widely by employer, age, and coverage level, but expect at least 400 to 700 per month for a basic plan as a single adult, more for families. Some employers pay the premium or a portion of it; others do not. Always negotiate this as part of a job offer.
Out-of-pocket costs:
Standard 15-minute GP visit: approximately 100 to 150
Prescription medication, weekly cold medicine: approximately 10 to 15
12-dose pack of antibiotics: approximately 20 to 30
Dental cleaning: 150 to 250
Bermuda Hospital Board figures show annual healthcare spending per resident averaging over 11,000, which is why insurance is mandatory.
School fees
If you have school-age children, this is the single largest planning variable. Private schools are the standard choice for expat families because the public school system is reserved primarily for Bermudian children. Annual fees at the leading private schools, as of 2026:
Saltus Grammar School: approximately 25,000 to 27,000 per year
Bermuda High School (BHS, girls' school): approximately 23,000 to 26,000 per year
Warwick Academy: approximately 21,000 to 23,000 per year
Mount Saint Agnes Academy: approximately 17,000 to 20,000 per year
These figures are tuition only; uniforms, books, lunches, school trips, and other extras add several thousand more per child per year. Scholarships and bursaries are generally restricted to Bermudian families.
Go through
Schools in Bermuda for more information about schools that are available in Bermuda for the expats' children.
If you are negotiating a job offer for a role that involves moving children to Bermuda, school fee coverage is the single most important benefit to push for. Two children in private schools will cost more than 40,000 a year in fees alone.
Clothing, personal care, and entertainment
Clothing in Bermuda is heavily imported with full duty applied. Expect roughly 50 to 100 percent more than US prices for equivalent items. A pair of jeans runs 80 to 120, branded sports shoes 130 to 160, a casual summer dress 60 to 100.
Many residents shop online from US retailers and have items shipped, which can save money even after shipping and duty.
Personal care: toiletries, toothpaste, deodorant, basic toiletries all cost roughly 30 to 70 percent more than US prices. A men's standard haircut runs 25 to 35, salon services proportionally more.
Entertainment: gym membership 120 to 180 per month, cinema ticket about 15, a night out at a club with a couple of drinks 50 to 80 per person before any food.
Salary needed to live in Bermuda
This is the single most important question for anyone weighing a job offer. Here are realistic working figures.
A single expat with modest lifestyle, sharing or renting a one-bed outside Hamilton: an annual salary of 70,000 to 80,000 USD allows you to cover rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare and modest entertainment, with limited savings.
A single expat wanting to live alone in a one-bedroom near Hamilton, eat out regularly, and save meaningfully: 100,000 to 120,000 USD per year is a reasonable target.
A couple with no children, both working, comfortable lifestyle: combined household income of 150,000 to 180,000 USD per year.
A family of four with two children in private school: realistically 250,000 USD per year combined household income, more if you want to save meaningfully or send children to the top schools. School fees alone eat 40,000 to 50,000 a year, before anything else.
These figures assume no housing allowance or other benefits from the employer. If the employer covers housing, school fees, or both, the required base salary drops accordingly. A 100,000 base salary with full housing and school fee coverage is materially better than a 150,000 base with neither.
Income tax does not exist in Bermuda, but you will pay payroll tax (currently approximately 4.75 to 11 percent depending on income), social insurance contributions, and indirect taxes through customs duties on everything you consume. The effective tax burden works out to roughly 15 to 25 percent of gross income depending on lifestyle.
How to keep costs down
If you do move to Bermuda, the levers that meaningfully reduce monthly spend are these:
Cook at home most days, eat out only for occasions, and accept that an average dinner out will cost two to three times what it would in the US. Live outside Hamilton, in Paget, Warwick, or Smith's, where rents drop by 25 to 40 percent for comparable properties.
Use the bus and ferry monthly pass rather than running a car. Resist the urge to import every comfort from home; shipping and customs add up. Negotiate the job offer hard for housing allowance and, if you have children, school fee support, which are worth far more than equivalent base salary.
A final thought
Bermuda is genuinely worth living in for many people. The climate, the natural beauty, the safety, the proximity to North America, and the absence of income tax all weigh on the positive side. But the cost of living is real and high and unforgiving, particularly for families with children.
Run your own numbers carefully before accepting an offer. The biggest mistake newcomers make is anchoring on a US lifestyle and assuming the same will fit a US-sized salary here. It will not.
If your offer puts you somewhere uncomfortable in the calculations above, negotiate, or pass. The island will still be here, and so will the next opportunity.
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
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1) Check out
Bermuda Jobs to know how to find a job in Bermuda.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Sarah (June 2022)
Hi Raj, very informative post. Has the cost of living in Bermuda increased much, post covid? What would you suggest as the minimum salary (to cover expenses, no savings) to consider moving to the island at this point in time?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) June 2022
Hi, fuel prices have gone up and so have the prices of most household items. As per Numbeo, presently the estimated monthly cost for a single person living in Bermuda is around $1,899 (without apartment rent) and that for a family of 4 is around $6,880 (without rent). The average monthly rent for a single-bedroom apartment would be around $2,500 (which can be much higher in the Hamilton City area). The average rent of a 3-bedroom apartment would be around $5,200 per month.
Elisabeth Thomas (March 2019)
Hello, This website is very helpful. I lived in BDA before for a little while and looking to find a job as a registered nurse. I was looking for various options and saw there are multiple nursing homes and hospital. I was a little shocked at the salary. I live in the US and making 79,000 at moment, it looks like pay is not more over in BDA but cost of living is. Is it about the same or salary dot com is incorrect? Thanks for your time.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) March 2019
Hi, registered nurses in Bermuda get between $70k to $75K annually (some times little higher). Yes, cost of living is much higher in Bermuda compared to the US because almost everything here is imported.
Anne (January 2019)
Hi Raj, I have accepted an offer to work in Bermuda for $78,000. I will be moving with my boyfriend who will earn around the same amount. Do you think it is realistic that we will find 1 bed accommodation for $2500 and be able to save about 30% of our salaries? All costs, rent etc will be split 50/50 between the two of us, we will also buy scooters and use them as our main mode of transport. Great website! Thanks for your help.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) January 2019
Hi, you can get a one-bedroom apartment within $2,500 per month, particularly outside Hamilton City. Savings will depend on how much you eat and drink outside and what outdoor activities you indulge in, but around 30% is doable if you do a good job in cost management.
Mao Duch (October 2018)
Raj, I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on a salary estimate based on the price of living in bermuda. The salary is $100,000/yr in US dollars. If it's just me moving there will it be enough to be comfortable and possibly save some money. Thanks for any feedback you can give.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) October 2018
Hi, yes it should be good enough. Try not to take an apartment in Hamilton... that will help save good amount of money.
Yassine (February 2016)
Hi Raj, My name yassine I'm Canadian, I'm french teacher, I applied for a teaching position in Bermuda, currently I teach here in Canada I have 4 children I'm asking if the government pay for Teachers from abroad accommodation and health insurance, and do you think 90.000$ as annual payment is a good salary or not. Thanks in advance.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) February 2016
Hi, usually accommodation and health insurance are not covered by the employer unless it's an exception. If you need to take care of education of your children, then $90K is unlikely to be enough, otherwise doable but will be tight with 5 members.
Rachel (May 2015)
Hi a job opportunity has come up for my husband as a vehicle technician for VW which includes accommodation. We have 2 sons, one at secondary school and the other taking GCSEs at present but wanting to continue education A levels. What Would be the cost of education please? £34,000 seems a good salary compared to £24,000 in uk for my husband but education and health care are free in Uk. After reading all the information on this website I don't think it would be a good idea? This lifestyle I think is more suited to a young individual with no family ties earning a lot more than 53,000 USD. I await your thoughts, thank you for your help. Kind regards
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) May 2015
You got it right. It won't be a good idea for a family of four moving to Bermuda with that salary. Cost of living is very high in Bermuda. You won't be able to make all ends meet (considering education fees for two).
Xavier Pol (April 2015)
Hi, First many thanks for all the info on your website! I am hoping for some advice from people who lived in Bermuda. I have recently been offered EUR 50,000 net of tax (approx 50,000 USD according to exchange rate) plus house allowance to cover house rental. I thought that was a lot of money but then I realized the cost of living is really
high ! So, what is your feeling: is it possible to relocate with my wife and baby? Thank you,
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) April 2015
Hi, If your house rent is fully covered, then annual salary of $50,000 is okay. But don't plan to save a lot.
Xavier Pol (April 2015)
Hi Raj, Many thanks for your answer. The house allowance doesn't cover electricity, gas, insurance, ... Do you think we can enjoy some restaurants times to time and some entertainments on the island or is it the minimum to buy food, personal care, cloth, baby care, electricity, car insurance, ...?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) April 2015
Hi, Plan things out properly and you can have your own piece of good times. As an example, for transportation always buy the quarterly pass if you plan to make use of the bus and ferry regularly. A pack of 15 tickets may be handy and economical for your wife who doesn't need to travel frequently. There are relatively cheap eateries where you can enjoy as much as in a flashy looking restaurant with inflated rates. Try the 'Best Cheap Bermuda Restaurants' search and you will find my page to scan through some of those great inexpensive way of dining in Bermuda. You mentioned about car insurance ... that would come into play if your company is giving you a car, otherwise it won't be wise to plan a car with such package, not even a used car. Bring baby care, cosmetics and other stuffs of day to day use as much as possible. These things are very expensive in Bermuda as almost all such things are imported.
To give you an idea about average pay packages, a Bermudian performing role of an accountant gets an average (median) annual salary of about $85,000. You seem to be in that slot. So like them, you too should be able to manage. The only difference is, Bermudians are allowed more than one day jobs, expats are not, and many Bermudians take up couple of jobs to earn more.
Harshul Taneja (November 2013)
Hi Raj, I just want to know how costly Bermuda country is? How much it costs for 1 meal outside in the Indian\ Bermudian restaurants and how much is the local transportation cost. My company is sending me to Bermuda for 3 months on Business Visa and they will bear the expense for the hotel accommodation which they will provide. And whether Breakfast is included in the Hotels usual package? They will hardly pay me 60$ per day, so say if I live there normally like having food outside 1 time and going out on weekends to explore Bermuda, how much will I be able to save from 60$ per day? I know I m firing questions on questions to you in a single mail, I'm really sorry for that. Hope you answers all my queries. Warm Regards
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) November 2013
Hi, Hotels in Bermuda support various plans like EP, CP, MAP etc where breakfast or other meals may or may not be packaged. It'll depend on what your company offers. $60 per day with Hotel stay will be very tight in Bermuda. Note that Bermuda is very expensive and much more than US or even UK. Virtually everything is imported here. Unless you are eating out of lunch wagons (available only in Hamilton and other limited areas) or picking up deli food from the super markets, it'll be difficult to manage three proper meals with that amount, even in a budget restaurant. But if you research and plan it out well, it may be possible. If you are staying around Hamilton, there will be lots of eating options.
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