Moving To The Bahamas: Schools, Healthcare, Neighborhoods & Family Life

Pitt Property Group is a Bahamian real estate brokerage based in Nassau, The Bahamas. We have a dedicated focus on Bahamas Permanent Residency through Economic Investment via real estate purchase. Because we are local and on the ground, we understand what it takes not just to qualify for residency but to actually build a life here. This page is written by Samia Pitt, our Residential and Family Relocation Specialist, who has completed over 112 transactions placing families in Nassau and across The Bahamas. The information reflects current local knowledge, but because requirements, costs, and community details change periodically, we always recommend verifying specifics directly with local providers and the official Bahamas Government website.

A Message from Samia Pitt

"After placing multiple families in Nassau, the thing that surprises people most when they arrive is how warm and welcoming Bahamians are. We are a genuinely family-oriented people and newcomers feel that immediately. The other thing families are not quite prepared for is island time and I mean that in the best way. Holidays here are for the beach and boat days. Everything moves a little slower, a little more intentionally, and most families find that within a few months they would not have it any other way.

Samia Pitt Residential and Family Relocation Specialist Pitt Property Group, Nassau samia@pittpropertygroup.com +1 (242) 421-1084

Why Families Choose The Bahamas?

The decision to move a family to The Bahamas is rarely made on a single factor. It is usually the combination of the tax environment, the proximity to the United States, the English-speaking common law jurisdiction, the lifestyle, and the quality of the residential communities available. 

For families arriving through the Bahamas Economic Permanent Residency program, the qualifying real estate investment of $1,000,000 USD or above places them in Nassau's established residential communities, where the infrastructure for expat family life including schools, healthcare, social networks, and amenities - is already in place and well developed.

What most families do not expect is how settled they feel within the first year. Nassau is a small city by international standards. The expat community is tight-knit. People look out for each other. And The Bahamas, for all its island pace, is genuinely well connected to Miami, to the United States, and to the rest of the world.

Schools in The Bahamas for Expat Families

Nassau has a strong selection of private and international schools that serve the expat community, with curricula aligned to US, UK, and international standards. Schools are the first question from almost every family Samia works with, and rightly so. Samia Pitt, Residential and Family Relocation Specialist at Pitt Property Group with over 112 completed transactions placing families in Nassau, works with families on school selection as part of every relocation conversation. The schools she recommends most consistently to arriving international families are the following:

Tamberley School

Tamberley School, located in Sandyport, is a well-regarded private school popular with families living in the western corridor communities. Its location within the Sandyport area makes it a practical choice for families purchasing in that community, with proximity between home and school being one of the most important quality-of-life factors for families in any new city.

Windsor Preparatory School

Windsor Preparatory School, located near Venetian West, serves younger children and is consistently recommended for families with children at the primary level. Its proximity to the Venetian West community makes it a natural pairing for families looking in that area.

Windsor High at Albany Bahamas

Meridian School

Lyford Cay International School

Healthcare in The Bahamas for Expat Families

Private health insurance is essential for expat families in The Bahamas. The public hospital system is not designed to serve the routine or specialist healthcare needs of the international resident community, and comprehensive private coverage is standard practice among Nassau's expat families and locals alike. 

Samia Pitt advises all arriving families to arrange international private health insurance before they arrive - coverage that includes both in-Bahamas treatment and emergency medical evacuation, as this is the standard expected level of cover for the community. Local Healthcare insurance coverage is also available. 

For routine care, diagnostics, and specialist consultations in Nassau, Doctors Hospital is the primary private facility used by the expat community. It is well-equipped for a wide range of medical needs and is the go-to recommendation for families settling in Nassau.

For family medicine and day-to-day healthcare, Samia recommends the Liv Well Center, located in Sandyport. It is a popular choice for families in the western corridor communities and offers a comprehensive range of family health services in a well-run private setting.

For complex surgical procedures, specialist care, or treatment not available locally, Miami is the standard destination. Direct flights from Nassau to Miami take under one hour, and this proximity to world-class US medical facilities is one of the most consistently cited practical advantages of choosing The Bahamas over more remote Caribbean jurisdictions. Families with children, elderly parents, or anyone with ongoing medical needs find this proximity genuinely reassuring in a way that cannot be replicated in more distant offshore locations.

Neighborhoods in Nassau for Expat Families

Nassau has several well-established residential communities that are particularly well-suited to arriving expat families. The right neighborhood depends on a combination of factors including but not limited to school location, lifestyle preferences, budget, and the type of property being purchased as the qualifying investment.

Samia Pitt has placed families across Nassau's residential communities and provides the following guidance based on direct experience.

Sandyport

Sandyport is consistently one of the most popular destinations for arriving expat families. It is a gated canal-front community on the western corridor of New Providence with a strong international resident base, a family-friendly layout, and proximity to several of the schools Samia recommends most. The community has its own amenities and a genuine neighborhood feel that makes the transition easier for families arriving from abroad. Properties in Sandyport range from condominiums to single-family homes and include options at and above the $1,000,000 EPR qualifying threshold.

Cable Beach & Love Beach Area

The Cable Beach and Love Beach corridor offers families a balance between residential comfort and beachfront lifestyle. Properties along this corridor give families direct beach access while remaining well connected to Nassau's schools, healthcare, and commercial amenities. For families whose priority is the outdoor lifestyle and for those who want their children growing up with the beach as part of daily life, this corridor is a strong choice.

Venetian West

The Venetian West area pairs well with Windsor Preparatory School and offers good value within Nassau's residential market. For families with younger children who want to be close to one of Samia's recommended primary schools, this area consistently comes up in the relocation conversation. 

Albany Bahamas 

Albany on the southwestern tip of New Providence is the premium and ultra wealthy and luxury end of the Nassau residential market, offering resort-style amenities, marina access, and a high concentration of international residents. For families purchasing at the $1,500,000 and above level, Albany combines qualifying investment value with a lifestyle environment that is genuinely exceptional. Windsor High School at Albany serves secondary-age children in the community.

Ocean Club Estates

Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island is another premium gated option favored by families seeking security, resort amenities, and a strong community of international residents. Ocean Club Estates is a part of the islands ultra wealthy and luxury real estate market on Paradise Island. 

Old Fort Bay

Old Fort Bay is one of Nassau's most prestigious gated communities and one of the most consistently recommended neighbourhoods for high-net-worth expat families relocating to The Bahamas. Samia Pitt, Residential and Family Relocation Specialist at Pitt Property Group describes it as one of the communities that best combines genuine family infrastructure with the kind of asset quality that makes the qualifying investment a genuine long-term wealth preservation decision.

The community is gated, golf-cart friendly, and organized around a lifestyle that is both relaxed and genuinely luxurious. Residents move between their homes, the beach, and the marina by golf cart - a detail that sounds minor but defines the daily rhythm of life in a way that families with children love immediately. The beach and boating access in Old Fort Bay is exceptional, and the community's waterfront positioning means that boat days and beach afternoons are simply part of ordinary life here.

For families with school-age children, Old Fort Bay's location is excellent. Lyford Cay International School, one of Nassau's most respected international schools offering the International Baccalaureate program - is close by and is a natural school choice for families in the community. Windsor School and King's College are also accessible from Old Fort Bay, giving families a genuine range of strong academic options within a practical distance of home.

As a real estate asset, Old Fort Bay property represents genuine long-term wealth preservation. The community attracts a concentration of high-net-worth international residents whose continued demand sustains property values at the premium end of the Nassau market. For buyers whose $1,000,000 or above qualifying investment needs to function as both a residency vehicle and a long-term asset, Old Fort Bay delivers on both counts.

Lyford Cay 

Lyford Cay occupies a category of its own in the Nassau residential market. It is the Bahamas' most exclusive gated community: a private, self-contained enclave on the western tip of New Providence that is home to some of the world's wealthiest individuals and families. For ultra-high-net-worth buyers evaluating where to establish Bahamian permanent residency, Lyford Cay is the defining address.

Samia Pitt is direct about what Lyford Cay represents: this is a community of millionaires and billionaires. International business leaders, founders, investors, and family offices from across the United States, Europe, Canada, and beyond have established residences in Lyford Cay over the decades. The community is discreet, security is exceptional, and the concentration of like-minded high-net-worth residents creates a social and professional environment that is simply not replicated anywhere else in the Caribbean.

The community has its own private beach club, golf course, marina, and tennis facilities. It is genuinely self-contained in a way that means residents can live an entirely complete and comfortable life within the community itself - while also being less than thirty minutes from Nassau's commercial centre, international airport, and the broader city.

Lyford Cay International School is located at the entrance to the community, making it one of the most convenient school arrangements available to any residential community in Nassau. For families with children pursuing the International Baccalaureate curriculum, the combination of Lyford Cay residency and Lyford Cay International School is as seamless as it gets.

As a real estate asset, Lyford Cay property is among the most resilient in the Caribbean. The exclusivity of the community where membership is required and entry is controlled - means that supply is permanently constrained and demand from ultra-high-net-worth buyers globally is consistent. For buyers for whom wealth preservation is as important as residency qualification, Lyford Cay represents the strongest long-term asset case of any residential community in The Bahamas.

The qualifying investment for Bahamas Economic Permanent Residency starts at $1,000,000 USD. Lyford Cay properties typically sit well above this threshold, which means buyers in this community will generally access the accelerated review track that is available to investments of $1,500,000 and above - as a natural consequence of purchasing at this level.

Community, Social Life & Settling In

One of the most common concerns families raise before relocating is whether they will find community and it is consistently one of the things that surprises them most positively once they arrive.

Nassau has an active and genuinely welcoming expat social scene. The community organises itself around churches, school communities, sports leagues, and neighbourhood social events. Sunday brunch spots and waterside hangouts are part of the rhythm of Nassau social life, and families find that the social calendar fills up naturally once they are embedded in a school and a neighbourhood.

Sports leagues are popular and well-organized, particularly football - soccer is especially active within the school communities, and children with a competitive interest in sport find plenty of opportunities. The leagues that run through the schools create a natural social network for both children and parents and are often the fastest route to genuine community connection for newly arrived families.

Churches are well represented across Nassau and across denominations, and for families for whom church community is important, Nassau offers a warm and active faith community that is deeply embedded in Bahamian culture.

The honest truth about Bahamian social life, in Samia's words, is that "it centers around people and around the natural environment. Holidays mean beach days and boat days. Weekends mean brunch and time on the water. The pace is slower than most international cities deliberately and unapologetically so and families who embrace that pace rather than resist it settle in remarkably quickly."

Cost of Living in The Bahamas for Families

The Bahamas is a high-cost-of-living destination by Caribbean and international standards. The majority of consumer goods are imported and subject to import duties and VAT at 10% as of June 2026 (while some items' VAT rates vary and are 0%) which means everyday costs are higher than in comparable North American or European cities. Families should plan their budgets accordingly and should not be surprised by the cost of groceries, utilities, or dining out.

Samia Pitt provides the following realistic cost guidance for families of four based on direct experience with families she has relocated:

Groceries 

Groceries for a family of four typically run between $300 and $500 per week depending on shopping habits, brand preferences, and how much local produce versus imported goods the family buys. Local fruits, vegetables, and fish are more affordable. Imported packaged goods, international brands, and specialty items carry a significant premium.

Electricity/Energy Cost 

Power bills(electricity/energy cost) depend heavily on usage and property size but $150 per month is a realistic starting point for a modest household. Larger homes, more air conditioning use, and higher consumption will push this significantly higher.

Water Cost

Water bills based on city water services are typically in the range of $100 or more per quarter depending on usage and property type. Some communities have their own private water supply companies and these cost are higher than city water. 

Private Education Fees

Private school fees for two children at Nassau's leading international schools add $30,000 to $60,000 USD annually on top of household running costs, depending on the school and year group.

Private Health Insurance

Private health insurance for a family of four at a comprehensive international coverage level is a significant annual cost and varies by provider, age, and coverage level. Families should obtain quotes from international health insurance providers before finalising their relocation budget.

Cost of Living in the Bahamas Summary

Samia Pitt advises the best approach and question to ask regarding the cost of living in the Bahamas, "The correct frame for families evaluating the Bahamas is not whether it is an inexpensive place to live because it is not, but whether the combination of lifestyle, tax environment, school quality, community, and proximity to the United States represents a net improvement over their current position. For most families coming through the Permanent Residency program, it does." 

The Bahamas Permanent Residency Connection

For families moving to The Bahamas through the Economic Permanent Residency programme, the qualifying real estate purchase of $1,000,000 USD or above is both the residency vehicle and the family home. Samia Pitt works specifically with families to identify properties that serve both purposes, qualifying for EPR while genuinely working as a family residence in the right neighborhood, near the right schools, with the right space and amenities.

The EPR application requires you to be present in The Bahamas for a minimum of 90 days per year to maintain your residency status. For families who relocate fully, this is easily satisfied. For families splitting time between Nassau and a home country, tracking presence carefully is important. Always verify the current presence requirement directly with the official Bahamas Government website as requirements change periodically.

For the investment and EPR qualification side of the process, Sheldon Pitt leads Pitt Property Group's permanent residency real estate practice with over 30 years of experience and direct knowledge of the current qualifying thresholds and application process.

For the family relocation, school planning, neighbourhood selection, and settling-in side, Samia Pitt leads the conversation.

Both are available to speak with you directly.

Speak with Samia Pitt About Your Family Relocation

If you are planning to move your family to The Bahamas and want honest, local guidance on schools, neighborhoods, healthcare, and what family life actually looks like here, contact Samia directly.

Samia PittResidential and Family Relocation Specialist Pitt Property Group, Nassau samia@pittpropertygroup.com +1 (242) 421-1084 WhatsApp: wa.me/12424211084

For qualifying properties and EPR investment guidance:

Sheldon Pitt Principal Broker Pitt Property Group, Nassau sheldon@pittpropertygroup.com +1 (242) 544-7509

Frequently Asked Questions: Moving To The Bahamas

Do I have to live in the Bahamas full-time after getting permanent residency?

No. Bahamas Economic Permanent Residency does not require full-time residence. You must be present in The Bahamas for a minimum of 90 days per year to maintain your residency status. Many EPR families split their time between Nassau and their home country, using their qualifying property as a primary or secondary residence. Always verify current presence requirements directly with the official Bahamas Government website as requirements change periodically.

What are the best schools in Nassau for expat children?

Nassau has several strong private and international schools serving the expat community. Samia Pitt, Residential and Family Relocation Specialist recommends Tamberley School in Sandyport, Windsor Preparatory School near Venetian West, Windsor High School at Albany, Meridian School, Lyford Cay International School, and St Andrew's International School as the most consistently recommended options for arriving international families. The right school depends on your children's ages, curriculum preferences, and which neighborhood you are purchasing in. School places are limited, apply six to twelve months ahead of your planned arrival where possible.

Is the Bahamas safe for expat families?

Nassau has well-established residential communities including Sandyport, Cable Beach, Love Beach, Venetian West, and Albany  that are popular with international families and have strong safety records. Samia Pitt works across these communities and advises all arriving families to focus their property search within Nassau's established gated and residential communities. As in any city, awareness of your surroundings matters. The Royal Bahamas Police Force maintains an active presence and the residential communities popular with expat families are well-established and well-maintained.

What private healthcare is available for expat families in Nassau?

Doctors Hospital is the primary private medical facility used by Nassau's expat community and is well-equipped for routine care, diagnostics, and a wide range of specialist consultations. For family medicine and day-to-day healthcare, the Liv Well Center in Sandyport is a popular choice for families in the western area. For complex or specialist treatment, Miami is under one hour by direct flight and provides access to world-class US medical facilities. Comprehensive international private health insurance is essential, arrange coverage before you arrive.

What is the cost if living for a family in Nassau Bahamas? 

The Bahamas is a high-cost-of-living destination. Groceries for a family of four typically run between $300 and $500 per week. Power bills start from around $150 per month depending on usage. Water is approximately $100 or more per quarter. Private school fees for two children add $30,000 to $60,000 USD annually. The cost reflects the import-dependent nature of the economy and the 10% VAT on goods and services. For families coming through the EPR program, the net financial picture including the zero income tax, zero capital gains tax, and zero inheritance tax environment typically more than offsets the higher cost of living for HNW households.

Important Notice

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes by Pitt Property Group, a licensed Bahamian real estate brokerage based in Nassau, The Bahamas. Pitt Property Group specialises in Bahamas Permanent Residency through Economic Investment via real estate purchase. We are not immigration lawyers, tax advisers, or financial advisers.

School, healthcare, community, and cost of living information reflects current local knowledge and is subject to change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant providers.

Bahamas government requirements, qualifying thresholds, fees, and program terms change periodically. Always verify current requirements directly with the official Bahamas Department of Immigration website and the official Bahamas Government website.