An Expat Talks about Moving to Paradise Island, Bahamas

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Paradise Island

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

I wish I had brought climate friendly work clothes, tech friendly items like chromecast/ firestick/ routers and tools. I wish I had left kitchen utensils and luggage items.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Use these types of forums to ask questions. Use the internet to explore. Google maps was very helpful. Our process was 10 months from first interview, so we had plenty of time to research, neighborhoods, schools and shopping areas. That said, nothing can prepare you for being on the ground. If you can get the chance to do some recon, do it.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

It is like an old beach house transformed into everyday living. They are all sharing walls but not duplexes or town homes. Similar to a one story condo. Several expats live in the area.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We used a couple online real estate agents: Dupuch and Paradise Island living. Looking for anything on Paradise Island close to Atlantis.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Rent is about the same but utilities far surpass what we were paying in UAE. That says a lot. I'd say average power bill is $500 month with summer months peaking at $750 and water bills average $150. We do have a private small pool which adds to the cost of both.