Economic indicators:
GDP: $ 2.7 billion (2003)
GDP per capita: U.S. $ 9,807 (2003)
Inflation: - 0.5% (2003)
Unemployment: 10.7% (2003)
From: photography.nationalgeographic.com |
Sectoral composition of GDP:
Industry: 16%
Services: 78%
Exports: $ 227 million
Export products: sugar and molasses, rum, food products, chemicals and electrical compenentes.
Destination: Caricom 43.2%, U.S. 15.3%, UK 13.2%, Canada 2.0% (2000)
Imports: $ 987 million
Import Tariff: automobiles, electrical appliances, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuels, electrical components.
Source: U.S. 40.8%, Caricom 19.8%, UK 8.1%, Japan 5.2%, Canada 4.2%
Major trading partners: USA, UK, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
Reference: www.portalsaofrancisco.com.br access in 2012
Cost Of Living - Bridgetown
The cost of
living in Bridgetown is very high compared to other places. The cost of living
comparison to other places, uses local prices for defined quantities of the
same goods and services at or near each location, converted to a single
currency. The prices are grouped together into basket groups and the cost of
living index calculated for each basket. The cost of living index for
Bridgetown can be compared to any other selected location using the
calculators.
Bridgetown
is currently ranked 78 out of 780 places (rank 1 is most expensive: rank 780 is
least expensive). The current cost of living rank for each basket, together
with selected local benchmark prices converted to US Dollars are as follows:
Alcohol
& Tobacco costs are very high compared to other places for items such as
beer, spirits, wine and cigarettes. There are 140 places that are more
expensive, and 639 places that are less expensive for alcohol and or tobacco.
Benchmark
price in a store for a midrange bottle of wine is $15.00, domestic/local beer
(500ml) $2.50, imported/international beer (330ml) $5.00 and a pack of 20
cigarettes is $6.00.
Clothing
costs are high compared to other places for items such as business, casual and
children's clothing and footwear. There are 198 places that are more expensive,
and 581 places that are less expensive for clothing.
Benchmark
price for an international brand of mens jeans is $75, a quality international
brand of running shoes $100, mens leather shoes suitable for office wear $150
while a medium size international summer dress from a global chain store is
$40.
Communication
costs are average compared to other places for various communication costs such
as home telephone rental, internet subscription, mobile tariff and data costs.
There are 446 places that are more expensive, and 333 places that are less
expensive for communication.
Benchmark
price for a monthly standard plan internet subscription is $20, while the
benchmark mobile tariff is $0.30 per minute.
Education
costs are average compared to other places for items such as creche /
pre-school fees, primary school fees, high school fees and tertiary study fees.
There are 353 places that are more expensive, and 426 places that are less
expensive for education.
Benchmark
annual private international school fees (excluding extras) $18,228 for Primary
School, and $22,059 for High School.
Furniture
& Appliance costs are high compared to other places for items such as
dining table and chairs, home entertainment, kitchen appliances, and sofa.
There are 198 places that are more expensive, and 581 places that are less
expensive for furniture and appliances.
Benchmark
price for a Blu-ray player is $136, and $1,341 for a 46 inch LED HD TV.
Grocery
costs are very high compared to other places for items such as consumables,
cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruit & vegetables, general food products,
snacks, soft drinks. There are 17 places that are more expensive, and 762
places that are less expensive for groceries.
Benchmark
price in a major international retail store for 1 kg apples is $4.00, 1 kg
oranges $4.00, 1 head lettuce $5.00, 1 kg potatos $4.00, 1 kg boneless,
skinless, chicken breast $9.37, 1 kg cheddar cheese $5.80, 1 dozen large eggs
$4.00, 500g loaf white bread $2.50, 1 L full cream milk $5.00, and 1.5 L water
$2.50.
Healthcare
costs are average compared to other places for doctor visit, hospital stay,
non-prescription medicine, and medical insurance. There are 402 places that are
more expensive, and 377 places that are less expensive for healthcare.
Benchmark
price for a private practice Doctor visit for an uninsured patient is $77, and
a private hospital stay per day including nursing care, medications, diagnostic
tests, food, and related costs is $2,263.
Household
Accommodation costs are high compared to other places for items such as
apartment purchase, mortgage rate, rental, and utilities. There are 190 places
that are more expensive, and 589 places that are less expensive for household
accommodation.
Benchmark
rental for a secure upmarket unfurnished apartment (3 bedrooms) is $2,583 in a
central location, and $1,434 in a suburban location, per month, excluding
utilities.
Miscellaneous
costs are high compared to other places for items such as dry cleaning, linen,
magazines, newspapers, office supplies, and postage stamps. There are 197
places that are more expensive, and 582 places that are less expensive for
miscellaneous items.
Benchmark
price for dry cleaning (1 mens 2 pc suit) is $9.84, while an international
newspaper is $3.03.
Personal
Care costs are high compared to other places for items such as cosmetics, hair
care, and toiletries. There are 290 places that are more expensive, and 489
places that are less expensive for personal care.
Benchmark
cost for a mens haircut and blow dry is $28, while a womens hair colour, cut
and blow dry - medium length is $140.
Recreation
and Culture costs are very high compared to other places for items such as
books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. There are 81 places that are more
expensive, and 698 places that are less expensive for recreation and culture.
Benchmark
price for a latest release international cinema ticket (average of on and off
peak where applicable) for one adult is $10.00, and an international fitness
club membership for one adult is $83 per month.
Restaurants,
Meals Out and Hotel costs are very high compared to other places for items such
as hotel daily room rates, meals and beverages in restaurants, and take away
food and beverages. There are 57 places that are more expensive, and 722 places
that are less expensive for restaurants, meals out and hotels.
Benchmark
price for a cappuccino (regular, medium) is $4.10, coke/pepsi (330ml) $1.62,
burger meal (international franchise or similar) $9.00, and a meal out (for 2
mid-range restaurant) $75.00.
Transport
costs are high compared to other places for items such as fuel
(petrol/gasoline), public transport, vehicle purchase and maintenance. There
are 214 places that are more expensive, and 565 places that are less expensive
for transport.
Benchmark
average price over the last year for highest available octane petrol / gasoline
(1L) is $0.98, while the benchmark purchase price including taxes/duties for a
compact / small / economy sedan (1.4 L) is $27,500.
In terms of
the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms,
Bridgetown is ranked as some hardship with a hardship index of 20%.
Personalized
reports using the cost of living indexes, hardship indexes and exchange rates
for Bridgetown or any other selected locations can be completed using the
Calculators.
Reference: www.xpatulator.com access in 2012