Essentials
- City
- Leeward Settlement, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
- Population
- Approximately 3,500 (Leeward and surrounding Grace Bay areas)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber optic available via Flow or Digicel; average 50-100 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (Official Currency). ATMs widely available at Scotiabank and CIBC FirstCaribbean.
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; most residents use bottled or desalinated cistern water.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (Same as USA/Canada)
- SIM Card
- Flow TCI or Digicel TCI; approx. $30 USD for 5GB data/30 days
- Banking for Expats
- CIBC FirstCaribbean, Scotiabank, and RBC. Digital nomads often use Revolut/Wise for lower fees.
- Accommodation
- High-end villas and canal-front rentals; monthly rates $4,000 - $12,000 USD.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards (Visa/MC) accepted at most resorts and restaurants; cash needed for small vendors.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and VRBO are primary; Leeward Palms and The Atrium Resort offer luxury stays.
- Budget Accommodation
- Limited; Sibonné Beach Hotel (Grace Bay) or guest houses in Richmond Hill ($250+/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Grace Bay (Central) for walking access to shops and beaches.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Leeward Settlement for quiet residential vibes and high-speed fiber connectivity.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hub TCI (Grace Bay Plaza); flexible desks from $50/day or $450/month.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lemon 2 Go (Grace Bay Road); reliable Wi-Fi, excellent coffee, and garden seating.
- Networking Events
- TCI Chamber of Commerce monthly mixers; Friday night 'Fish Fry' for informal networking.
- Social Events for Expats
- Potcake Place K9 Rescue (volunteering); Providenciales 'Expats in TCI' Facebook group events.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Lyft. Use 'Conch Cab' or local taxi services (Fixed rates, e.g., $20 from Leeward to Grace Bay).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Caicos Cyclery in Grace Bay; bikes $25/day, scooters approx. $60/day.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Leeward Beach (Sunset Beach area); secluded, white sand, turquoise water.
- Top Regional Airline
- interCaribbean Airways and Caicos Express Airways (connecting to Bahamas, Jamaica).
- Top International Airline
- American Airlines, Delta, British Airways, and JetBlue.
- Highway Access
- Leeward Highway connects the entire island from East to West.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- None (No public trains/buses). All transport is via car or shuttle.
- Public Transport Passes
- None available; illegal 'jitney' vans operate for $2-$5 per ride locally.
- Regional Travel
- Ferry from Caribbean Cruisin' (Leeward-Going-Through) to North/Middle Caicos ($65 round trip).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Cheshire Hall Medical Centre (Providenciales); managed by InterHealth Canada.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Studio 90 Degrees (Grace Bay); Pilates and Yoga. Retreat Kitchen for wellness snacks.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Graceway Sports Centre; $20 day pass. Includes tennis courts and full gym.
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Shop (Provo Plaza); drop-off wash/dry/fold services from $1.50/lb.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Price.ky or local delivery services like 'Turks Takeout'.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Conch Salad or Cracked Conch (Try Da Conch Shack or Bugaloo’s).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Retreat Kitchen (Leeward Highway); plant-based bowls and smoothies.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Island Scoop (Grace Bay); homemade ice cream and fresh waffles.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Graceway IGA (Leeward Highway); widest selection of groceries.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- None local; residents use ShopShipTCI to forward Amazon/USA orders.
- Grocery Delivery
- Graceway Gourmet offers online ordering and delivery to Leeward.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Grace Bay strip; Danny Buoy’s (Karaoke) and Shisha Lounge.
- Local Brewery
- Turks Head Brewery (Discovery Bay Road); tasting flights and tours available.
- Wine Bars
- Sandbar (Grace Bay) or the wine cellar at Magnolia Wine Bar (Turtle Cove).
- Street Food Stalls
- Island Fish Fry (Thursday nights at PTV Stubbs Diamond Plaza); $10-$15 plates.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Caicos Café (French/Italian) and Yoshi’s Sushi (Japanese) in Grace Bay.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Chalk Sound National Park and the La Famille Express Shipwreck.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Turks and Caicos National Museum (Village at Grace Bay branch).
- Historical Sites
- Cheshire Hall Plantation (ruins of a late 1700s cotton plantation).
- Religious Sites
- Our Lady of Divine Providence (Catholic) and Paradise Baptist Church.
- Annual Events
- Maskanoo (December 26th) and Valentine’s Day Cup Model Boat Race.
- Cultural Districts
- Blue Hills Settlement (Traditional island architecture and food).
- Theater Venues
- Brayton Hall (Local community plays and school performances).
- Local Markets
- Anna’s Art Gallery for local crafts and Middle Caicos Co-op products.
- Music Scene
- Ripsaw Music (Local genre); check out 'The Weavers' at local hotels.
- Street Art
- Murals at the Salt Mills Plaza and hand-painted signs in Blue Hills.
- Cooking Classes
- Private sessions available via local chefs (e.g., Chef Jonathan Koster).
- Art Galleries
- Making Waves Art Studio (Grace Bay); resident artist Alex Skye.
- Historic Buildings
- The Lighthouse at Grand Turk (separate island, accessible via 20-min flight).
- Local Heritage
- Salt Raking heritage; showcased through the National Museum exhibits.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Princess Alexandra National Park (Leeward/Grace Bay marine reserve).
- National Parks Nearby
- Chalk Sound National Park (Bright turquoise lagoon with limestone islands).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Residential roads of Leeward and the paved paths in Grace Bay.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Bird Rock Trail (Leeward) for ocean vistas and rocky cliffs.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mangrove Cay (accessible via kayak from Leeward) for herons and egrets.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Permits required; typically organized only by resorts (e.g., Club Med).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (Providenciales) and FedEx (Leeward Highway).
- Tech Repair Services
- The Computer Guy TCI or TCI Tech (Downtown Providenciales).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Not dedicated; some pool areas at resorts like Club Med.
- Language Classes
- Spanish and French tutors available via private ads (e.g., TCI Classifieds).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Providenciales Public Library (Downtown Provo).
- Community Centers
- Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre (Downtown).
- Gaming Lounges
- None available; mobile and home gaming is the norm.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casablanca Casino (Grace Bay); table games and slots.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $420,000 USD in Grace Bay central).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $240,000 USD in Five Cays or Kew Town).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $11,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $660,000 USD in Leeward/Grace Bay).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $5,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $348,000 USD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $12,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $1,000,000 USD for beachfront/canal-front).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $520,000 USD).
- Corporate Tax
- 0% (There is no corporate income tax in TCI).
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (No withholding tax on dividends or interest).
- Tax System
- Territorial; no personal income, capital gains, or inheritance taxes.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (No personal income tax).
- VAT
- No VAT; however, a 12% Tourism Tax applies to hotel stays and restaurants.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No CFC rules exist in TCI.
- Property Tax
- None (No annual property tax; only a one-time Stamp Duty at purchase).
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty: 6.5% to 10% depending on property value and location.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% tax on worldwide income; TCI offers a 'Work from TCI' residency permit.