What is the cost of living in Exuma in 2026?

Great Exuma’s practical hub is George Town around Elizabeth Harbour. Long-term stock is thinner than Nassau’s Cable Beach market, and vacation lets dominate listings. When resident leases appear, modest one-bedrooms often plan near $1,000 farther from the harbour or around $1,300 closer in, with two-bedroom bands commonly cited near $1,500–2,000 depending on finish and generator readiness. Efficiencies can open lower; beachfront and Emerald Bay–style polish climb fast. Always confirm hurricane shutters, water, and whether the landlord wants winter-only guests.

Food is the second shock. Mail boats and planes restock Shop Rite Mart, Exuma Markets, and smaller settlements on a weekly rhythm. Local grouper, fruit stands, and bakery runs help. Imported milk, bread, and packaged goods can sit well above Nassau, sometimes by tens of percent on the same brand: Groceries and eating out. Cooking at home still beats resort dinners, but the cart rarely looks “island cheap.”

Power, internet, and a truck or golf-cart habit still matter in heat months: Utilities, internet, and transport. Solo mid-range planning totals around $2,500–2,700 including rent show up in recent George Town estimates; treat them as a starting quote and rebuild with your own AC and boat-fuel habits: Monthly budget.

Clinics in George Town handle routine care. Specialists, serious diagnostics, and many hospital paths still point to New Providence, so airfare and lodging enter the healthcare line: Healthcare costs. International school depth is thinner than Nassau’s Lyford Cay and King’s corridors; families often keep a capital school address or accept flights that erase rent savings: International school costs.

Compare corridors honestly. Nassau’s resort belts usually cost more in housing; Freeport can undercut both for some renters while keeping its own service limits: Nassau cost of living and Freeport cost of living. Country shortlist: Where to live and How expensive is the Bahamas.