Bahamas on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
A true shoestring trip is hard in the Bahamas, but a careful budget of about US$180 per person per day (bed US$85, food US$45, activities US$30, transport US$20) is realistic if you share a room and base yourself in Nassau. Island-hopping and boat tours push the figure up quickly.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$85 | US$170 | US$380 |
| Food & drink | US$45 | US$85 | US$160 |
| Sights & tickets | US$30 | US$90 | US$180 |
| Local transport | US$20 | US$55 | US$110 |
| Per person, per day | US$180 | US$400 | US$830 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Bahamas day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk down the Queen's Staircase and see Fort Fincastle's exterior on Bennet's Hill
- Parliament Square and the pink colonial buildings of Bay Street
- Junkanoo Beach near the cruise port
- Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island via the public access paths
- Tropic of Cancer Beach on Great Exuma
- Sunset over the sandbars at Coco Plum Beach, Exuma
Cheap eats
- Conch salad made to order at the Fish Fry, about US$15–20
- Fried snapper with peas and rice, about US$25
- Cracked conch at the Exuma Fish Fry shacks, cheaper than resort menus
- Johnnycake and a patty from a local bakery, a few dollars
- Local Kalik beer at a Fish Fry shack, much cheaper than resort bars
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in downtown Nassau guesthouses (about US$120–200 for a double, so roughly US$60–100 each when sharing) or small apartments with kitchens in Nassau and George Town. Dorm beds are rare; there are a few hostels in Nassau.
Getting around cheaply
Jitney minibuses (about US$1.25–2) cover Nassau by day; there is no public bus from the airport, so share a taxi (about US$35–40 for two). Between islands, Bahamas Fast Ferries is cheaper than flying for Eleuthera and Harbour Island. On Harbour Island, walk rather than renting a golf cart for every day.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Fort Fincastle and the Queen's Staircase, then Bay Street (free)
- Lunch: Conch salad at Arawak Cay, about US$15–20
- Afternoon: Swim at Junkanoo Beach or Cabbage Beach (free), jitney about US$4 return
- Evening: Fried snapper with peas and rice at the Fish Fry, about US$25
- Total: about US$180 with a shared guesthouse double
More ways to save
- Base yourself in Nassau and limit yourself to one Out Island to cut flight costs.
- Check the cruise schedule and visit downtown Nassau on quiet days, when vendors are less pushy.
- Bring snorkel gear from home; Stocking Island and some Exuma beaches are good for snorkelling from the shore.
- Buy water and snacks at Exuma Markets in George Town rather than at beach bars.
- Travel in May or early June for lower rates and warm, calm water.
- Remember VAT and service fees when comparing hotel prices; look at the final total.
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Common questions
Can you visit the Bahamas on a budget?
A careful budget of about US$180 per person per day is realistic in Nassau if you share a room, eat at the Fish Fry and use jitneys.
What is the cheapest island to visit?
New Providence (Nassau) has the cheapest beds and food and the only real public transport. The Out Islands cost more for groceries and getting around.
Is the ferry cheaper than flying?
Usually yes: Bahamas Fast Ferries from Nassau to Eleuthera and Harbour Island takes about 2–2.5 hours and costs less than most flights.