Pros and Cons of Living in Bahamas

Summary: The pros of living in the Bahamas include the beautiful beaches, warm climate, and vibrant culture. The country is also known for its low taxes and relaxed lifestyle. On the other hand, the cost of living in the Bahamas can be quite high, and the infrastructure is not as developed as in other countries. Additionally, the Bahamas is prone to hurricanes and other natural disasters, which can be a cause for concern.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bahamas?

Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Bahamas responded:

"While The Bahamas has a lot of restrictions and needs much work in terms modernizing there infrastructures (internet, cable, power systems, bureaucracy, police force, food sources management, etc) if you can find a way to work within the current limitations you can enjoy and mostly peaceful and beautiful country that offers much in terms of natural beauty, sunny weather, friends, boating, watersports, island hopping, financial benefits (think taxes), and natural beauty. It is an ideal place for people to retire who have a good healthcare plan. If you do not need to work here, have an income coming from abroad and are not in a rush for anything to get done this could very well be the place for you. I have been here for a number of years, am not retired but work online and have loved my experience here. I also have met people that have had to work here with local companies and they usually burn out in about 4-5 years as working here is quite difficult and not at all what it would be like in North America or Europe. You need to be ready to adapt and face new challenges that just do not exist on the same level in a first world country. Here you can have issues like employees do not show up for work if the weather is good for fishing, or if they got a good paycheck and went out the night before. The red tape of getting anything done within the public sectors and government is very long and extremely frustrating. Expect everything to take twice as long as advertised. One of the best things about living in Nassau is the ability to travel to the family islands. The family islands are where the real beauty of the islands is at. If you do not need infrastructure such as schools, large hospitals and large grocery chains then the family islands might be where you want to be. Keep in mind things are generally more expensive on the family islands as goods need to be shipped in on boats that might only come once a week. Also the family islands are more susceptible to hurricanes during the hurricane season. But if you can live with those things will get to enjoy more of the natural beauty of The Bahamas including pristine white sand beaches and sandbars with crystal clear waters," explained one expat living in Nassau.

"There are not mainly positives about living here except for the lack of income tax and the weather. The country lacks many of the conveniences of first world countries and the cost of living is prohibitive unless you are paid substantially by an employer from your home country. There is almost no agriculture or manufacturing here and everything is imported. The cost of groceries is 1.5 to 2 times the price than that of the U.S. There are frequent brownouts in the summer and the quality of the tap water isn't very good. Dealing with the government and local businesses can be extremely frustrating as "island time" is a real thing. There isn't a sense of urgency about much of anything or consistency of information provided by the government. Local businesses very often do not have websites or if they do, they don't update them with the latest information. Customer service is lacking in general, and the quality of restaurants, salons, etc. is generally not on par with the U.S. As far as positives, the people here are generally friendly and polite. The medical care we have received has been quite good and same day medical appointments are the norm. There is usually not much of a wait once you get to your appointment, either," said one in Nassau.

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What do expats in Bahamas appreciate most about the local culture?

"Once you accept the way they view time you realize that you have also relaxed and are not as stressed as you were in your "old life". You may not have your water line installed the day they said they would but you are also not running around stressing the small stuff anymore. You find alternate sources of water etc until it gets done and you go about your other stuff. The children come home happy with stories to tell you and you are eager to hear them because your not tired from a long stressful day at the office," replied an expat in Nassau.

"People here mostly smile and greet you every time you go by, strangers or not. There is a 'help each other attitude' in some groups," remarked one in Treasure Cay, Abaco.

What do expats find most challenging?

"Many expats in the Bahamas find it challenging to get used to the more relaxed attitude towards punctuality and timeliness, as well as the frequently more laid-back approach to life that is seen in the local culture. Expats also need to be aware of the different customs and cultures that exist between Bahamians and expats, so as to avoid potential misunderstandings. Expats can also find it difficult to adjust to the more informal manner of communication which is common amongst locals. Finally, the Bahamas has its own particular type of etiquette and it can sometimes be tricky to learn the ins and outs of its most important cultural norms," explained one expat.

"A resistance to change. Lack of interest in opportunities that both land and sea offer. Lack of use of both. Poor attitudes in any type of officialdom, basically service with a shrug or blank stare. Not caring about standards - the stores happily sell food that is out of date and even rotten. Communication is appalling, phones not answered, messages and emails not replied to, desks not manned. Corruption. Male chauvinism. There is a definite male/female divide here. Of course none of this applies to everyone or every place, there are some lovely people and some places with great service, but it is generally inherant," said one person in Treasure Cay, Abaco.

Pros and Cons of Living in Bahamas

What are the pros and cons of living in Bahamas?

What do expats in Bahamas appreciate most about the local culture?

What do expats find most challenging?

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