If you’re considering moving from the USA to Bermuda, whether to spend more time in your vacation home or to move here permanently, then you’ll probably be thinking about your budget and how much it’s going to cost day-to-day to live here. To give you a better idea of how much you’ll potentially spend on everything from eggs to movie tickets, we’ve put together a Bermuda cost of living comparison.
Bermuda Cost of Living vs. USA
The USA is a big place, but we’ve picked out a few of the major cities and compared prices there to the average prices commonly found in Bermuda’s capital, Hamilton. The currency of Bermuda is the Bermudian dollar, which is pegged to the American dollar on a one-to-one basis.
Basically, one Bermuda dollar equals one American dollar.
Food
After a busy morning at work in the business district, you might step out of the office with a few colleagues to enjoy a little bit of lunch. Nothing too elaborate, just a basic lunchtime meal and drink on the side. Here’s how much that’ll cost you in Bermuda compared to our chosen U.S. cities.
Hamilton - $22
New York City - $17
San Francisco - $17
Boston - $14
Philadelphia - $14
If you don’t have time for a sit-down meal and you just want to enjoy delicious fast food, then you’ll pay a little less.
Hamilton - $11
New York City - $9
San Francisco - $9
Boston - $8
Philadelphia - $7
After work, it’s time to head to the store for a few groceries. You’ll pick up a liter of milk, 12 large eggs, 500g of local cheese, one bottle of red wine and a loaf of bread. Let’s see how much that comes to depending on where we are in the world.
Hamilton - $55.46
New York City - $34.08
San Francisco - $42.48
Boston - $31.08
Philadelphia - $31.60
Shopping
So, you want to go shopping. That raises the question of how we're going to get there. Driving in cities is always a bit of a headache, so there’s a good chance you’ll want to catch the bus, metro or ferry here in Bermuda. Here’s what a monthly ticket will cost you.
Hamilton - $64
New York City - $122
San Francisco - $85
Boston - $85
Philadelphia - $95
It’s the weekend and you head to the local stores to pick up a few items. You need some basics like toothpaste and cold medicine, but you also want to add to your wardrobe. Let’s start with the essentials - you’ve got the medicine, toothpaste and then grabbed toilet paper, laundry detergent and deodorant.
Hamilton - $32.99
New York City - $31.47
San Francisco - $35.61
Boston - $30.10
Philadelphia - $28.43
Now you’ve got the basics, it’s time to head to the clothing stores for a little bit of retail therapy. Here in Bermuda, there’s a diverse range of shops for you to find what you’re looking for - the most famous is probably Gibbons Company. At the store, you settle on a new pair of jeans and some Nike sneakers.
Hamilton - $183
New York City - $148
San Francisco - $163
Boston - $151
Philadelphia - $122
Entertainment
You leave the stores happy with your new purchases and now it’s time to enjoy your Saturday night. In Bermuda, there’s always something exciting to do but first, it’s time to grab some food. Whether you’re enjoying Italian cuisine at Tempest Bistro or delicious fresh seafood at Harry’s, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s how the average price of a dinner for two compares between Bermuda and the U.S.
Hamilton - $147
New York City - $120
San Francisco - $96
Boston - $102
Philadelphia - $81
After dinner, you head to the movies to catch one of the latest blockbusters. Here’s what a couple of tickets will cost you.
Hamilton - $24
New York City - $33
San Francisco - $31
Boston - $27
Philadelphia - $27
Once the film is over, there’s still time to chat about that twist ending over drinks. Here in Bermuda, we’re famous for a couple of unique cocktails - especially the Rum Swizzle. Head to Wahoo’s or The Pickled Onion and watch the sun set.
Hamilton - $14
New York City - $16
San Francisco - $14
Boston - $13
Philadelphia - $11
Bermuda is an idyllic place to live, offering picture-perfect, pink-sand beaches, exotic wildlife and a diverse culture that’s waiting to be explored. It’s easy to see why people want to come from all over the world to spend time here.
Because of shipping costs, prices are sometimes high, which is to be expected. You might have to pay a little more for the same items than if you were in Boston or Philadelphia. But you’ll enjoy a warm climate, a relaxed atmosphere and you can take a dip in the crystal waters of the Atlantic Ocean any time you like.
Bermuda is only slightly more expensive than cities in the U.S. But think about what you’re getting for your money - a welcoming community, tranquil ocean views and tropical wildlife that you’ll never see in the Big Apple, for example. If you’d like to know more about living in Bermuda, then you’re in luck.
Everything You Need to Know About Bermuda
Considering a dream move to a tropical or subtropical island? Perhaps you’re thinking about buying a vacation home. Or maybe semi-retiring or retiring to warmer climes. Bermuda is beautiful and vibrant, making it the perfect place to live, work and enjoy life. Trade in those grey skies and the dreaded office job for your island paradise and swap the U.S for Bermuda.
If you like the sound of enjoying a Rum Swizzle on Tobacco Bay Beach while the sun sets over the horizon, then download our all-in-one guide to moving to Bermuda from the U.S using the link below.
