The Bahamas prices in Bahamian dollars pegged to the US dollar, so there is no exchange rate to watch, but there are taxes worth knowing before you book or shop. Here is what is verified: the VAT rate on your hotel bill, the tax now removed from basic groceries, and the departure taxes built into your ticket or cruise fare.
VAT on what you buy and book
The Bahamas charges a standard VAT rate of 10% on most goods and services, including hotel bills and other paid accommodation. That rate has moved twice: VAT was raised from 7.5% to 12% under the former administration, then the current one cut it to 10%, as the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed in a statement dated 12 March 2026; neither government source gives an exact date for the 12%-to-10% cut itself.
Groceries are the exception. Since 1 April 2026, VAT has been removed entirely from a wide range of unprepared, uncooked staples: fresh meat, fish, produce, baby food, bread, rice and similar basics are zero-rated, so a supermarket shop is now tax-free on the essentials. Prepared and restaurant food is not covered and stays at the standard 10% rate, so a meal out still costs more in tax than the same ingredients bought raw.
If you are renting a condo, house or apartment through Airbnb or a similar short-term platform, the booking itself works the same for you as a hotel, but the owner is under a separate obligation: Inland Revenue requires every short-term vacation rental to be registered with the department, a rule in force since 2023. It is worth asking a host whether their listing is registered before you pay a deposit.
Departure taxes
Taxes on leaving the country are usually folded into what you already paid, but the amounts differ by how you arrive.
Flying out on a scheduled airline, you will not be charged separately at the airport: Bahamas Customs states that for commercial air departures the departure tax is charged to the carrier and included in the quoted ticket price. Customs does not publish a single dollar figure for commercial flights, since airlines absorb it into their fares, and it does not publish a separate departure-tax figure for private or non-commercial aircraft either.
By cruise ship, the departure tax is USD 23 per adult from any Bahamian harbour, rising to USD 25 if you depart by sea from a private destination without calling at another Bahamian port first. On top of that, a separate USD 5 tourism sustainability levy applies on cruise arrival or departure, and a USD 2 tourism enhancement levy on departure. Cruise lines typically fold all of this into the fare you already paid, so check your cruise line’s fare breakdown instead of setting cash aside for it at the port.
Practical tips
- Buy your groceries raw rather than prepared where you can: unprepared basics are VAT-free, a restaurant plate is not.
- Ask a short-term rental host to confirm their property is registered with Inland Revenue; it is a requirement, not a courtesy.
- Do not budget separately for airport departure tax on a scheduled flight: it is already in the ticket price you paid.
- A cruise passenger’s departure tax and levies are almost always prepaid in the cruise fare; check your line’s documents instead of carrying cash for it.
What to check before you go
- Confirm with your accommodation or host whether the quoted price already includes the 10% VAT, since not every listing shows it separately.
- If you are leaving by private or non-commercial aircraft, ask your operator about any departure tax due: Bahamas Customs does not publish a figure for it the way it does for cruise passengers.
- Read your cruise line’s fare breakdown for the exact total of departure tax and levies, since the combined amount depends on which port and route you take.