I Lived in Barbados for Decade Until It Became Too Expensive; Returned to Derbyshire

Hannah Swift initially traveled to Barbados for a job-related visit in 2008—she immediately developed an affection for the island and pledged to come back again.

In 2015, she sold the marketing agency she’d owned and run in the UK for the past four years, to spend six months in Barbados, with the aim of taking a break and embracing island culture.

It has this welcoming atmosphere, and I really enjoy being near bodies of water," explains Hannah, who is 39 years old and hails from Darley Dale in the Peak District. "Despite being a tiny island, everybody seems to know each other here. You can find various cultures and hues everywhere.

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Half a year evolved into a decade for Hannah; during this time, she honed her scuba diving abilities, secured her ideal role at a prominent airline, and found a life partner.

In Barbados, with a total population of approximately 292,000 people, about 35,000 individuals—roughly 12.5 percent—are expatriates or immigrants. It is estimated that there are roughly 100,000 British expatriates throughout the larger Caribbean area.

When Hannah gave birth to her daughter Jamila in 2018, however, the high cost of healthcare in Barbados became apparent.

The private health insurance she had through her employer offered her a pregnancy and childbirth care allowance of around $1,250 US (around £932). As she required a C-section, Hannah says this didn’t go far.

Based on her research into prices back then, a public hospital Caesarean section was estimated to be roughly $6,000 (approximately £4,500), whereas opting for private care would set someone back about $8,000 (roughly £6,000) instead.

That also excludes the expense of ultrasounds, which Hannah mentions were approximately $100 (about £74), in addition to doctors' visits costing about £52 each.

Given that round-trip tickets to the UK were priced at roughly $2,200 (£1,630) back then, Hannah mentions that choosing to return home for childbirth was a straightforward choice. This way, she could recover comfortably under her parents' care after giving birth.

When Jamila was just eight weeks old, Hannah returned to Barbados and resumed her job shortly after completing the required 12-week maternity leave from the government. Consequently, Jamila started attending nursery school full-time.

When Jamila began school at age three, Hannah and her partner opted for private education, which came with a monthly price tag of approximately $500 (£371).

Once they went their separate ways when Jamila was about four years old, Hannah came across a cozy three-bedroom bungalow just ten minutes away from the shore. She secured this place for $750 (£556) per month in rent, admitting that this price was under the current market rate since she'd made a private arrangement directly with the landlord.

However, the overall cost of living in Barbados has been increasing since most groceries have to be brought in from elsewhere. A liter of milk costs approximately $4.50 (about £3.30), and although you'll see familiar brands like Tesco or Waitrose on store shelves, these products come with significantly higher prices compared to their origins. Typically, shops shut down by 8 pm.

Placing an order with Amazon is costly and complex, plus it's a society that relies heavily on cash.

In her professional life, Hannah believed she had reached the limits of advancement in Barbados, and personally, she longed for the proximity to her relatives and acquaintances in the United Kingdom.

She was keen on sending her daughter to a school in the UK to take advantage of their top-notch public education system.

Last year, Hannah managed to secure an internal transfer within her company to work in the UK, relocating to Matlock in Derbyshire during July. Her daughter then began attending a nearby public school right away. To help her catch up with the UK’s phonics requirements, she received extra assistance.

"Prices kept rising in Barbados, and being a single mom made everything feel even pricier. Professionally speaking, I felt like I had reached my limit there. The UK offers far greater opportunities for growth," explains Hannah.

It was a challenging choice to go, but I really required additional child care assistance. Being close to my family was important to me as they had missed many moments of my daughter’s life, particularly due to the pandemic.

Although Hannah and her daughter have adapted well to their new life in the UK, they intend to go back to Barbados frequently to see their loved ones and maintain those important connections. Additionally, she remains open to residing there once she reaches an older age.

"Barbados is a lovely place to reside, however, looking back, I believe I was too young when I relocated there," muses Hannah.

The truth is, when you're employed full-time, you won’t be at the beach daily. Instead, your days are filled with everyday tasks. However, many of my acquaintances who operate their own ventures still live there — it’s an excellent spot for such pursuits. During the pandemic, numerous digital wanderers also relocated to this area.

If retirement has freed up your time, or you've amassed sufficient resources to opt for part-time work, allowing you to fully enjoy life on the island, it would be incredible. I could picture myself returning there someday.