Question 1

Can a US citizen move to Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only with a work permit or under one of Bermuda's limited residency programmes. As a US citizen, you can stay up to 180 days a year as a visitor without a visa. Long-term residence requires either an employment-sponsored work permit (Bermuda's most common route, tied to a specific job offer with an employer who proves no qualified Bermudian was available) or, for retirees and remote workers, the Economic Investment Certificate or Work From Bermuda Certificate (a one-year remote-work visa renewable annually, requiring $263 application fee and proof of substantial annual income). Permanent residency is rare and not connected to property ownership. Bermudian status (full citizenship) is restricted by descent and very limited naturalisation routes. For the full cost picture, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 2

How much does the average house cost in Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

The average house in Bermuda costs around $1.5 to $2.5 million USD, with starter homes beginning around $800,000 and premium properties (waterfront, Tucker's Town, larger Hamilton-area homes) routinely clearing $5 million. Bermuda's limited landmass (just 20 square miles), strict zoning, and high construction costs combine to keep property prices among the highest in the world. Foreign buyers face additional friction: non-Bermudians can buy only properties above a specific annual rental value threshold, pay a 25 percent foreign buyer tax (the Trust Property Tax), and require government approval. Most expats rent rather than buy, with modest two-bedroom units running $1,800 to $3,500 a month and premium properties at $5,000-plus. For the full cost picture, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 3

How much money do you need to live in Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

Living in Bermuda costs around $4,900 per person per month, or roughly $58,800 a year, based on CostLiving's moderate lifestyle benchmark. That figure covers rent, groceries, utilities, transport, and modest discretionary spending. Housing is the dominant line: rental apartments in Hamilton or near beaches run $1,800 to $3,500 a month for modest two-bedroom units, with premium properties reaching $5,000 and above. Groceries run 30 to 60 percent above mainland US averages because nearly everything is imported. Bermuda is meaningfully more expensive than the Cayman Islands ($3,800), the Bahamas ($3,625), and the US average ($3,275), and comparable to Los Angeles ($4,350) on totals. No income tax, but a payroll tax of 8.75 to 11.25 percent applies. For the full lifestyle tier breakdown, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 4

Is Bermuda an expensive place to live?

Accepted Answer

Bermuda is among the most expensive places in the world to live. CostLiving's moderate lifestyle benchmark for Bermuda is $4,900 per person per month, about 50 percent above the US average ($3,275) and meaningfully higher than the Bahamas ($3,625), the Cayman Islands ($3,800), or Aruba ($3,225). Housing drives most of the premium: Hamilton apartment rentals run $1,800 to $3,500 a month for modest units, with premium properties at $5,000-plus. A gallon of milk runs about $15 (yes, fifteen US dollars), a dozen eggs $5 to $7. Property purchases start around $800,000 and routinely exceed $2 million. The offsets are real: no income tax, a strong financial-services job market, and salaries to match. For the full breakdown, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 5

Is healthcare free in Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

No, healthcare in Bermuda is not free. The system is largely private and runs on mandatory health insurance: all employed residents must be covered, with the cost typically split between employer and employee. Standard Health Benefit (SHB) is the baseline plan, covering hospital admissions at the Bermuda Hospitals Board's facilities; most residents pair it with private supplemental insurance for outpatient, specialist, and overseas care (since complex cases often route to Boston or New York). Premiums vary widely: a single adult typically pays $250 to $600 a month for combined SHB and supplemental coverage, with employers often covering 50 percent. Out-of-pocket costs are common for prescriptions and specialist visits. Bermuda's overall moderate lifestyle benchmark of $4,900 per person per month assumes standard health coverage in place. For the full cost picture, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 6

What are the downsides of living in Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

The honest trade-offs of living in Bermuda are cost, isolation, and limited scale. CostLiving's moderate benchmark of $4,900 per person per month makes Bermuda 39 percent more expensive than the US average and on par with major US coastal metros, with a gallon of milk at $15 and rent starting around $1,800 for a modest two-bedroom. The island is small (20 square miles, population 64,000), so the social scene, dining, and entertainment options are limited compared to even a mid-sized US city. Imported goods take time to arrive, healthcare specialists are limited (complex cases route to Boston or New York), and hurricane season (June through November) shapes home design and insurance costs. The 60/40 ownership rule restricts business options for non-Bermudians. For the full picture, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 7

What does a gallon of milk cost in Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

A gallon of milk in Bermuda typically runs $15 USD, four times the US mainland average of around $4. The premium reflects import dependence: nearly all dairy arrives by ship or air, and customs duties, freight, and limited shelf life combine to push the price. Other staples follow the same pattern: a dozen eggs runs $5 to $7, a loaf of bread $5, a pound of chicken $8 to $12, and most produce 50 to 100 percent above mainland US prices. Locally caught fish is the affordable outlier. The grocery premium is the main reason Bermuda's moderate lifestyle benchmark ($4,900 per person per month) sits 50 percent above the US average ($3,275) despite relatively contained rent in modest units. For the full cost picture, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Question 8

What is the 60/40 rule in Bermuda?

Accepted Answer

The 60/40 rule is Bermuda's local-ownership requirement for companies operating in the domestic economy. Any business serving the Bermudian market (retail, restaurants, hospitality, professional services to locals) must be at least 60 percent owned by Bermudians (or status holders) and have at least 60 percent Bermudian directors. The rule is meant to protect local commercial ownership against offshore capital. Exempted companies (the international business sector, including reinsurance, captive insurance, and offshore finance) are not subject to 60/40 because they cannot trade in the local economy. For foreigners considering moving to Bermuda to start a local-economy business, 60/40 is a hard constraint: practical workarounds usually involve partnering with a Bermudian majority owner. For the broader cost picture, see our Bermuda cost of living page.

Bermuda Cost of Living Questions