Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Barbados, Caribbean Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Promotech (Sheraton Mall)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Various South Coast hotel grounds
- Language Classes
- Barbados Language Centre (BCC)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Oistins Public Library
- Community Centers
- Christ Church Parish Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- Level Up Arcade (Sheraton Mall)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Lucky Horseshoe (Slot machines and gaming)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000 USD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $160,000 USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000 USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $210,000 USD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $440,000 USD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $256,000 USD)
- Corporate Tax
- Sliding scale 1% to 5.5%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Residence-based; Welcome Stamp holders are tax-exempt on foreign income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 28.5%
- VAT
- 17.5%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No
- Property Tax
- Yes, ranging from 0% to 0.75% of improved value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 2.5% Transfer Tax + 1% Stamp Duty (Sellers)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 12-month Welcome Stamp offers 0% local tax on remote income
Essentials
- City
- St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, Barbados
- Population
- Approximately 1,500 (Local area), 285,000 (National)
- Internet Speed
- 100-300 Mbps via FLOW or Digicel Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- Barbadian Dollar (BBD), Pegged at 1 USD ≈ 2 BBD
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink; naturally filtered through limestone
- Power
- 115V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (US Standard)
- SIM Card
- Digicel or FLOW (Approx. $25 USD for 10GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Republic Bank, CIBC Caribbean; Revolut/Wise widely used
- Accommodation
- Hotels, Guest Houses, and Condos (Airbnb/Direct)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, major credit cards accepted in most Gap establishments
- Short Term Rentals
- Yellow Bird Hotel, Infinity on the Beach ($150-$300/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Dover Beach Hotel, Rostrevor Hotel ($120-$180/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Gap 'Main Strip' for nightlife and dining
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Dover Terrace or Atlantic Shores (Quieter, residential)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- REGUS Barbados (One Welches, 15 mins drive, $30/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bliss Café (Dover), Happy Days Café (Great Wi-Fi)
- Networking Events
- Barbados Welcome Stamp Socials, BIDC Innovation Hub meets
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Barbados Facebook Group, Friday Oistins Fish Fry
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- PickUp Barbados (App) or local Z-vans ($1.75 USD)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Stoddard’s Rentals ($35/day for scooters)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Dover Beach (Direct access from the Gap)
- Top Regional Airline
- interCaribbean Airways, Caribbean Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, American Airlines
- Highway Access
- ABC Highway (5 mins drive from the Gap)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Oistins Bus Terminal (Southern Hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- No passes; $3.50 BBD flat fare per ride
- Regional Travel
- Blue/Yellow buses to Bridgetown or Speightstown
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Bridgetown), Bayview Hospital (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sunshine Kiva (Dover), Santosha Yoga (South Coast)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Surfside Wellness Centre (10 mins drive, $75/month)
- Laundry Services
- Self-service at Dover; 'Gap Laundry' ($15 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Hopscotch Barbados
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Flying Fish and Cou-Cou
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Artsplash Centre (Nearby Hastings), Raw Juice Bar
- Best Dessert Spots
- Chilly Moo's Ice Cream Treatery
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Oistins Street stalls, Massy Stores
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Aeropost Barbados (For Amazon imports)
- Grocery Delivery
- Massy Markets Online (Massy Stores)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- St. Lawrence Gap (The whole strip)
- Local Brewery
- Banks Beer (Barbados Breweries)
- Wine Bars
- Primo Bar & Bistro (Wine selection by the water)
- Street Food Stalls
- Gap Burger, Oistins Fish Fry (15 min walk)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Apsara Samudra (Indian/Thai), Cocktail Kitchen
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- South Point Lighthouse
- Museums & Art Venues
- Barbados Museum & Historical Society (10 mins drive)
- Historical Sites
- Garrison Savannah (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Religious Sites
- St. Lawrence Anglican Church
- Annual Events
- Crop Over Festival (July/August), Food & Rum Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Oistins Fishing Village
- Theater Venues
- Frank Collymore Hall (Bridgetown)
- Local Markets
- Oistins Fish Market, Hastings Farmers Market
- Music Scene
- Old Jammers (Live Jazz/Reggae), McBrides Pub
- Street Art
- Murals along the Worthing Main Road
- Cooking Classes
- Lickmush Caribbean Cooking Classes (Custom)
- Art Galleries
- On The Wall Gallery (Worthing)
- Historic Buildings
- George Washington House (Near Garrison)
- Local Heritage
- The Broken Trident (National Symbol)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary
- National Parks Nearby
- Farley Hill National Park (40 min drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Richard Haynes Boardwalk (Hastings)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Freights Bay cliffs (Sunset views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Graeme Hall swamp areas
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Silver Sands Beach (Designated areas only)