Freeport, a city of 46 thousand people on Grand Bahama Island, sits at an elevation of 2 meters above sea level in the America/Toronto timezone. Its tropical climate brings warm, humid summers from June to September, with frequent hurricanes, and mild, dry winters from December to February, where temperatures hover around 13 degrees Celsius. Popular expat neighborhoods include Lucaya and Fortune Bay, offering a mix of beachside living and community amenities.
Living costs in Freeport reflect a range of budgets. A single person's monthly cost excluding rent is $1,200/mo, with utilities at $273/mo, internet at $67/mo, a mobile phone plan at $63/mo, and a gym membership at $56/mo. Rent for a one-bedroom in the city centre is $993/mo, while outside the centre it is $924/mo; a three-bedroom in the city centre costs $2,246/mo, and outside the centre $1,987/mo. The budget tier total for a single adult, rent included, is $2,783/mo, the mid-range tier is $3,500/mo, and the comfortable tier is $4,800/mo. An inexpensive restaurant meal costs $48 per person, a mid-range three-course meal for two is $100, and a cappuccino is $7. The average monthly net salary locally is $1,559/mo, highlighting a gap between wages and the cost of comfortable living.
Safety in Freeport is solid, with a safety index of 75/100 and a crime index of 28/100, where lower is safer. Healthcare quality is rated as Good, and the air quality index is 45, with lower being better. The city has a large and active expat community, and English is widely spoken, making daily life and integration straightforward for newcomers.
For those looking to stay long-term, Freeport offers a Permanent Residence retirement visa program and the Bahamas BEATS Extended Access Travel Stay digital nomad visa. The nearest airport is FPO, located 7 km from the city. With an overall expat score of 67/100, a digital nomad score of 69/100, a retiree score of 53/100, and a FIRE score of 50/100, Freeport suits digital nomads and expats seeking a beach lifestyle with good safety and healthcare, though the cost of living relative to local wages means careful budgeting is essential.