We have spent the past two months sailing the Bahamas. We left from Palm Beach Inlet and hit almost every Island from the northern Abacos down to the Exumas. You may be wondering how much does it cost to sail the Bahamas. We wanted to share our expenses to show you that cruising the islands does not have to be expensive. Here is a list of what we spent sailing around the Bahamas for 60 days.
Cost breakdown of 60 days in the Bahamas
Fresh Coconut Water
Permit:
In order to explore and set foot on land in the Bahamas, you must clear customs and purchase a cruising permit. This permit cost us $300 (boats that are under 35’ cost $150).
Bringing a dog to the Bahamas also requires a separate import permit ($10) and a health certificate ($65).
Total Permit Fees: $375
Groceries:
Grocery Shopping in Nassau
We try to make our own food as much as possible. When grocery shopping we also try to buy high quality/organic meat and veggies whenever they are available. Our grocery bill is probably a bit higher than the average person because of the higher price for specialty foods.
Publix: $350
Treasure Cay Market: $150
Maxwells (Marsh Harbor): $130
Hope Town Grocery: $175
Great Harbor Grocery: $75
Solomons Fresh Market, Nassau: $450
Total Grocery Bill: $1,330
The majority of this food was eaten by the three of us. We did however, have family and friends on the boat for meals on multiple occasions.
Restaurants:
We try to limit eating out as much as possible but a big part of traveling is experiencing new cultures which in turn means trying new foods. Eating out also teaches us new ways to prepare and cook the fish we catch ourselves:)
We went out on average twice a week and spent an average of $50 an outing.
One of our favorite restaurants was Pete’s Pub in Little Harbor. They served delicious fresh fish and tasty veggies. The menu changes daily depending on what is available. Check out the video below to get a sneak peek of what is served!
Total Spent at Restaurants $800
Fuel
Fueling up in Hope Town
Our boat holds a total of 80 gallons of diesel fuel. Our Bahamas trip included almost 800 miles of traveling. Lucky for us the majority of that time was under sail so our diesel consumption was limited. We are also very lucky that our dinghy engine is super fuel efficient.
Jupiter Mobile: 10 Gallons of Diesel and 15 gallons of gasoline: $78.40
Treasure Cay Fuel Dock: 11 gallons of diesel 5 gallons of gas: $76.95 +$5 tip
Marsh Harbor fuel dock: 5 Gallons of Gas $24.50 + $3tip
Hope Town: 8 gallons of gas $42.56 +$5 tip
Highbourne fuel dock: 5 gallons $25.50 +$3 tip
Sailfish Marina (final fill up so our tanks are topped off and ready for the next adventure): 22 gallons $71.95 +$5 tip
Total Fuel Bill: $340.86
Water:
Water is precious on a boat!
Jupiter Loggerhead Marina: Free
Treasure Cay $7.50
Marsh Harbor: $20
Nassau Yacht Club: $6/Day $30
Total Water Bill: $57.50
Phone/internet
We needed a way to access internet so we could continue uploading videos. The easiest way to access internet was to buy a BTC sim card and use an unlocked iPhone as a personal hotspot for our phones and computers.
BTC Sim Card, 15Gb data, and text/minutes: $75
15Gb top up: $35
15gb and minutes top up: $50
15gb top up: $35
15gb top up and minutes $50
15 gb Top up: $35
Total Phone Bill: $280
Dockage
Treasure Cay Mooring Field
Treasure Cay mooring: $30/day $180
Nassau Harbor Club: $1.75/foot/night (7.5% charge for using credit card) $215
Nassau Harbor Club: $143
Total Dockage/mooring fee: $538
Total Spent Sailing the Bahamas for 2 months: $3,721.36
No wind, No worries. Slow and Steady!
Depending on your eating habits and whether or not you like to stay at a marina these numbers can change dramatically. Considering the fact that we traveled so far and got to see and do so many amazing things we are pretty impressed with these numbers.
I hope this encourages you to set sail:)
Sierra
That’s great you guys. Remember, when buying food out of the US, the organic certification means almost nothing (its fuzzy in the US). You might could shave your food bill there, especially on root vegetables (which are mostly organic anyway).
Calm winds & following seas.
Howard
Love you guys! Keep the videos coming but don’t let it come in the way of anything!
That’s great guys, very reasonable cost for an adventure as such. We just Launched “Thirsty Yesterday, and Lori has already started seArching for a cat, she wants to sail. Can’t blame her.
Remember that most vacations just close to salt water cost that much for 1 week! Nice! Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic information. Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together. Love what you are doing 🙂
There use to be no permit fee years back. They have their hand out every way you look today down there . I would travel other places where you don’t have dockage fees. Delos doesn’t use them that much or LaVagabond either. Its become a money pit to me down there.
The Pacific islands are much better.
The permit in the Bahamas is well worth it to cruise such a beautiful and vast archipelago. You can’t really blame them for charging a cruising permit that covers your fishing license too as you are traveling through their gorgeous country and using their resources (fish, conch, etc.)
I’ve certainly enjoyed watching all of your videos and following your travels. Looking forward to your next adventure! Best wishes to you both & Jetty, too!
Good stuff Sierra, thanks!
WOW! That is incredibly cheap for the adventure all of you had, not to mention the life time of memories. My husband and I admire both of your ambition and the hard work you put in to make it happen. You have inspired us to someday be the much older version of you guys and explore many unknown and beautiful places by boat.
that’s really cheap considering it is for a 2 month trip. I enjoy watching your videos. i grew up on and around boats, and I plan on eventually living aboard one. thank you for sharing your experiences
I’ve been watching your videos and pretty impressed at the things you guys do and not being afraid to tackle a job like the holding tank.
Just had a few questions.
You may have answered these in the past but I’m a new subscriber here and possibly just haven’t seen the post.
1. How do you deal with the heat? I’ve been there in summer and the heat makes it almost intolerable. I can’t really imagine sleeping outside or inside a boat without good ventilation or A/C. Or, do you try to plan your visits to the islands around the comfortable season and move off to cooler areas for hot summer time?
2. I was wondering also how you know if you can anchor in any place or if you have to use the mooring ball, or is it just a preference to be able to use dock amenities like water and pump out?. Are there any rules about staying in the protection of the bay?
3. What do you guys do for healthcare? Is there a boating health group insurance, maybe you could comment about that.
4. How many times have you had to deal with undesirables? What about pirates? Does anyone ever show up at your boat and try to get on or steal something? What are the rules/laws about having a gun onboard for protection? How fast would help show up if you needed it?
5. How often do you pull the boat out of the water? And, if you do that, do they let you stay with the boat or do you have to find another place to stay while you are cleaning the underside or making repairs?
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike:)
Thanks for the questions.
I will do my best to answer them.
We do not have an A.C. but we do have multiple fans and windows. In most places, there will be at least somewhat of a breeze to counter the heat. We spend most of the hottest part of the day either in the water or exploring where we are.
In Florida as long as you are out of the channel and are not blocking any structures such as boat ramps, marinas, or moorings you are free to anchor. However, I believe there are now a few places in Miami and Fort Lauderdale that anchoring is now restricted. Our Navionics charts are pretty good at showing us common anchorages as well as places that anchoring is prohibited. You can anchor almost anywhere in the Bahamas as long as it is not a man-made canal (in this case some places charge you to anchor). You do have to be careful of underwater cables and strong currents in the Bahamas.
We have not found a boating health insurance group. We just have a standard health insurance.
We have met nothing but pleasant people along our journey. We lock our cabin door when we leave just in case. Guns have to be declared and held at customs in the Bahamas so there is no point. Not that we ever felt like we needed one.
We haul the boat once a year. Most yards do not let you stay aboard while it’s on the hard but some do. When we have the boat out we are generally doing a big project that is too much of a mess for us to also stay on. We will either stay with family or at a hotel.
Hope this helps!
Sierra
Absolutely love your YouTube channel & enjoying reading the blog as well. Do either of you get sea sickness – even on rough days?
Hi Tula’s Crew
We live just outside of Toronto and are planning a trip to the Bahamas. We don’t sail but own a 33’ cruiser boat. We plan to tow our boat to Miami and cruise to Bimini and then as many other destinations as possible.
We are slightly nervous with crossing the Gulf Stream. Our typical cruising speed is 30Mph on plain. We will go slower once we get into calm waters
I’m Estimating 2 hours to cross sometime in April as we will be wanting to get away from the cold from home.
Is April recommended for decent weather. Ie storms
We are looking for advice for anchorages that are must see’s while we are there.
How far we could go in 2 weeks from Miami and back? Abacos, Exuma,Eleuthera , Cat
Destinations available by water only. Ie swim with the pigs
What the customs process is? Do you apply prior to arriving?
Is US currency excepted?
Any websites or books you’ve found to be good for planning
We use Navionics and a Raymarine chartplotter.
I have watched a good percentage of your video’s and have learned a lot
Keep up the good work!
Hey guys watch your videos all the time. So quick question about the d.r. before I ask my main question. If you can’t get off your boat at most of those islands then what’s the permit charge for? And why wouldn’t they want the you read and the economy that would provide? Or is that like that on just a few of the islands? Maybe they are privately owned?
Ok what I really need to know. Lol. So I remember when you guys bought that cat and I think you said it was a 88 or 98, can’t quite remember but I dont remember you saying what you paid for it. And no need to. Thats personal and I understand. But I’ll be putting my house up for sale come early spring amd with the economy possibly going down the toilet I’m thinking maybe sooner. My realistic hope is that I’ll clear 80k (it was a fixer upper) possibly 100. And I don’t mind financing maybe another 80k. I’ve been shopping around. I for sure want a cat. My question to you is this. Can I find something in the 140/150 range that’s not close to being turn key and that’s not going to bust the piggy bank of incidentals which I’m hoping to be able to put 10k in there. I mean you see my point like yeah I can manage 150 no problem but if I got turn around and buy new sail, sheets, engine. I mean you know that list could go on and on. If I have to do that then I may as well throw in the towel cuz that’s my entire budget. And hey I dont mind having to do work primer paint and what have you. My labor is free that’s no problem. So is it possible to buy a cat that 30 years old and it be basically up to date minus incidentals and regular maintenance. I’m a retired female veteran and I’m doing this alone. I mean hopefully I can find crew along the way but for the most part it will just be me taking on the finances.
Oh and lastly how does hiring crew usually work?