Freeport: island living on Grand Bahama, 70 miles from Florida
Rent, healthcare, hurricanes and an airport still being rebuilt: the practical side of life in the Bahamas' second city.
- 45,945
- Population (2012)
- $2,500/mo
- Monthly budget · single
- 76°F / 25°C
- Avg temperature
Plan on about $2,500 a month for one person in Freeport, with $2,000 to $3,000 as the realistic spread depending on how you live. A couple should budget around $3,800, and a family of four around $5,500. A one-bedroom apartment near the center rents for about $1,100 a month, or about $850 farther out. These are 2026 estimates in U.S. dollars.
The government calls Freeport the nation's second city. It sits on Grand Bahama, about 70 miles east of Palm Beach, built around a container port and a free trade zone, with the beaches and canal-front homes of Lucaya a short drive away. It's English-speaking, warm all year, and close enough to Florida that a trip home is a short flight or a ferry ride.
It suits retirees and remote workers who want a slower Bahamas than Nassau and don't mind driving everywhere. It's a harder fit if you need a local job, see specialists often, or can't stomach a hurricane season. The island is still recovering from Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and you'll see it at the airport.
Reviewed and updated October 15, 2026 · 4 min read
At a glance
$2,500
Monthly budget · single person
$1,100/mo 1-bed rent, center
56/100
Safety index
$85
Internet / month
76°Fannual average
Jan 70° · Aug 82°
Climate
45,945
Population (2012)
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Cost of living
What it costs to live in Freeport
Single person
$2,000–$3,000/mo
about 20% below Austin, TX
Couple
$3,100–$4,500/mo
about 15% below Austin, TX
Family of four
$4,300–$6,700/mo
about 30% below Austin, TX
Compared with Austin, TX (Expatsi estimate, 2026).
- $20 ±0%
- Inexpensive meal
- $900–$1,300/mo −44%
- 1-bed rent, center
- $700–$1,000/mo −37%
- 1-bed rent, outside
- $85/mo +31%
- Internet
- $204/sq ft −69%
- Buy price, center
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Daily life
How Freeport lives
- C grade, 8th percentile among the cities we track
- Dining & cafésmodest
- C+ grade, 19th percentile among the cities we track
- Arts & culturemodest
- B grade, 47th percentile among the cities we track
- Parks & outdoorstypical
- C grade, 11th percentile among the cities we track
- Schools & educationmodest
- C grade, 14th percentile among the cities we track
- Healthcare accessmodest
- C- grade, 0th percentile among the cities we track
- Bike infrastructuremodest
- B- grade, 27th percentile among the cities we track
- Public transittypical
Graded on OpenStreetMap amenity density relative to the 369 cities we track. Accessibility is the exception: it's graded against a fixed standard (terrain steepness and sidewalk surfaces), not a curve.
Climate
Weather through the year
Annual average 76°F (25°C) · 44 in of rain a year · Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (temps: ERA5-Land 0.1°; precip/sunshine: ERA5 best-match; 1991-2020 normals)
On the ground
Scenes from Freeport
Getting around
Transport in Freeport
Freeport is spread out, so most residents drive. Downtown, Lucaya and the beaches are separate stretches of road, and there's no train or tram. Traffic keeps to the left, which takes a while to feel natural if you bring or buy a left-hand-drive American car.
Without a car, you'll lean on jitneys and taxis. Jitneys are privately run minibuses on set routes, and the fare is $1.50 for adults. Taxis cost more, usually $20 to $30 for a ride across town. Uber and Lyft don't operate on Grand Bahama, so save a couple of drivers' numbers. Biking is possible on quiet streets, but the Bahamas has no bike lanes.
Getting off the island is the bigger question. Grand Bahama International Airport has operated from temporary facilities since Dorian wrecked the terminal in 2019. In January 2026 the government said contractor Polycon had started site work on Phase One, a project of more than $100 million with a new terminal and U.S. pre-clearance, but as of July 2026 there was still no completion date. Until it opens, check which U.S. routes are flying before you commit. The other way home is the Balearia Caribbean ferry to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, about three hours each way.
- 4.6/sq mi
- Transit stops
- 0.0/sq mi
- Bike infrastructure
- 0.7/sq mi
- Wheelchair-accessible places
Mapped features per square mile from OpenStreetMap.
Keep exploring
Places like Freeport
Community and practical notes
What Freeport asks of you day to day
Community
Freeport's foreign community is smaller and quieter than Nassau's. You'll meet people through boating, church, volunteering and local clubs more than through an organized expat scene. Bahamians are known for being friendly and informal. Everything happens in English.
Healthcare
Rand Memorial Hospital is the island's public hospital, and the health minister has said it outgrew its capacity 15 to 20 years ago. A new Freeport Health Campus was about 30 percent built in September 2026, with the government aiming to open its first phase by the end of 2027. Serious cases can still mean an air ambulance to Nassau or Miami. Most providers expect cash up front, U.S. insurance usually doesn't pay, and Medicare doesn't apply at all, so the State Department strongly recommends medical evacuation coverage. Hunter Schultz, our healthcare coach, and ExpatInsure, which offers global health insurance, can help you set that up.
Internet and remote work
Home internet runs about $85 a month. If you work on video calls, test the connection at the exact address before you sign, and keep a mobile hotspot as a backup during storm season.
Hurricanes
Hurricane season runs June through November, and September is the wettest month here. Budget for shutters, a generator and insurance, and know that airports and seaports close before a storm arrives.
Retiring in Freeport
Freeport works for retirees who want warm weather, English and Florida within reach on about $2,500 a month for one person. The trade-off is healthcare: until the new campus opens, plan on flying to Nassau or the U.S. for specialist care. Compare countries in our retirement visas guide, see the residence routes in Moving to The Bahamas, and read up on the Annual Residence Permit.
LGBTQ expats
Same-sex relationships have been legal in the Bahamas since 1991, and the State Department notes no legal restrictions on LGBTQ+ events. Same-sex marriage and civil unions aren't recognized, and there's no broad legal protection against discrimination in jobs or housing. Many Bahamians hold conservative Christian views, so expect mixed reactions to openness. Get wills and powers of attorney in order before you move.
Black Americans
About nine in ten Bahamians are of African descent (2010 census), so as a Black American you'll blend into daily life in a way you may not elsewhere abroad. The bigger adjustment is being a foreigner with residency paperwork. We couldn't find firsthand accounts specific to Freeport, so a scouting trip is worth it.
Limited mobility
Freeport is a tough place to get around with a wheelchair or limited mobility. The Bahamas passed disability laws in 2014, but they aren't consistently enforced. Newer buildings in tourist areas tend to be accessible, while many older ones aren't, and outside those areas you'll likely depend on your own adapted vehicle.
Housing
Renting and buying
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $900–$1,300/mo
- 1-bed rent (outside center)
- $700–$1,000/mo
- Buy price (center)
- $204/sq ft
- Buy price (outside center)
- $139/sq ft
Expatsi estimates, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Florida to Freeport?
Fly into Grand Bahama International Airport, which is being rebuilt after Hurricane Dorian, or take the Balearia Caribbean ferry from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, about three hours each way. Freeport is about 70 miles east of Palm Beach.
What is the cost of living in Freeport, Bahamas?
Plan on about $2,500 a month for one person, with $2,000 to $3,000 as a realistic range. A couple should budget around $3,800 and a family of four around $5,500. A one-bedroom apartment near the center rents for about $1,100 a month, or about $850 outside it. These are 2026 estimates in U.S. dollars.
Does Freeport get hurricanes?
Yes. Hurricane season in the Bahamas runs June through November, and Hurricane Dorian hit Grand Bahama hard in 2019. Residents budget for storm shutters, a generator and property insurance, and airports and seaports close before a storm arrives.
Can I retire in Freeport, Bahamas?
Yes. Retirees like Freeport for its warm weather, English and short trips to Florida, on a budget of about $2,500 a month for one person. You'll need a residence permit to stay long term, and you should plan for specialist care in Nassau or the U.S. Medicare doesn't cover care in the Bahamas, so private health and evacuation coverage matter.
What is healthcare like in Freeport?
Rand Memorial Hospital is Freeport's public hospital, and a new Freeport Health Campus is under construction, with its first phase targeted for the end of 2027. Serious cases may be flown to Nassau or Miami. Providers often want cash up front and rarely take U.S. insurance, so buy international health coverage with medical evacuation.
Is Freeport, Bahamas safe for Americans?
Freeport is livable with sensible caution. The U.S. State Department rates the Bahamas Level 2, "exercise increased caution," and renewed that advisory in July 2026. It notes that most crime in the country happens in Nassau and Freeport, so lock up, choose secure housing, and stay alert in rental properties without private security.
Do you need a car to live in Freeport?
Most residents do, because Freeport is spread out and there's no rail system. Jitney minibuses run set routes for $1.50 a ride, and taxis usually charge $20 to $30 across town. Uber and Lyft don't operate on Grand Bahama. Traffic drives on the left.
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