Best Caribbean islands to buy real estate: complete guide for investors

1. Relocation or “plan B”. Caribbean countries are appealing and affordable options to create a safe haven; they offer high living standards, a comfortable tropical climate, and tax optimisation for businesses.

2. Second citizenship. Buying real estate for $200,000+ in a Caribbean country that has a citizenship by investment program can help investors and their families obtain citizenship.

Caribbean citizenship has numerous benefits: for example, it grants the right to travel visa-free to more than 100 countries.

How to get citizenship in Caribbean countries

3. Beneficial taxes. There are also no capital gains in the Caribbean, which means businesses can significantly reduce their tax burden. Companies operating outside the Caribbean do not pay taxes on global income.

4. Diverse investment opportunities. Investing in Caribbean real estate offers a range of options, particularly in the booming tourism sector. Potential high returns can be found in properties such as hotels, resorts, or vacation rentals.

Additionally, as islands develop infrastructure and commercial areas, the value of both commercial and residential properties rises, providing prospects for both short-term rental income and long-term property appreciation.

5. Rental yields and price growth. The property bought in the Caribbean can be used to make a profit, too. Both the annual rental yield and the property prices growth are estimated to be around 3—5%. This means the purchased property can be rented out profitably, and after several years, the investor can resell it: the citizenship by investment programs generally allow it.

Benefits of investing in real estate. St. Kitts and Nevis’s citizenship by investment program was the first in the world; it has been in place since 1984. The country has three options for real estate investors:

• buy a share or a government-approved property for $325,000+ — it can be luxury hotels and resorts or other government-approved projects;

• buy a condominium with the Approved Private Home status for at least $325,000;

• or invest at least $600,000 in a private dwelling designated as an Approved Private Home.

An investor can sell a property in 7 years. The investor also earns a profit of 5% a year from leasing the property.

In St Kitts and Nevis, investors can buy property for long-term personal use. Other Caribbean CBI’s programs usually require renting out investment property to generate profit for the country.

Average cost of property. A three-bedroom apartment in St Kitts and Nevis costs approximately $4,300 a month — this is the highest price among the Caribbean countries with CBI programs.

St Kitts and Nevis also has a higher annual rental yield than Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, or St Lucia — about 4—5%. Real estate prices in St Kitts and Nevis grow on average by 4—5% per year.

Oceanfront villas in St Kitts and Nevis cost at least $350,000; the price per square metre for such properties start at $190,000. Less expensive real estate is for sale starting at $5,000 per square metre.

Benefits of living in St Kitts and Nevis. St Kitts and Nevis is known for its medical schools — for example, the University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Graduates from St Kitts and Nevis are eligible for the scholarships offered by universities in the UK.

Healthcare in St Kitts and Nevis is free of charge for those under 18 and over 62.

St Kitts and Nevis citizenship can be inherited: a minor child of a country’s citizen can be granted citizenship by registration.

Renting a property for a family of four would cost about $3,000 a month. Prices per month for apartments in the city centre of St Kitts and Nevis start at $700.

Examples of investment properties in St Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts & Nevis, Frigate Bay

$325,000 — $4,000,000

Share in a villa and apartments in a luxury hotel complex

58 m² — 426 m²

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St Kitts & Nevis, Basseterre

$350,000+

Fraction in five star hotel under management of Hyatt Group

St Kitts & Nevis, Basseterre

$440,000+

Share in a 5-star hotel managed by Hyatt

Benefits of investing in real estate. Buying property in Antigua and Barbuda is a path to obtaining the country’s citizenship. This is a significant benefit for investors who plan to not only travel to but also live in the country.

Property can also be rented out to make a profit — Antigua and Barbuda allows that. The approximate annual rental yield in the country is 4%, which is only 1% less than in Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis.

The property prices in Antigua and Barbuda grow by 3—5% a year; real estate can be profitably sold in 5 years after obtaining citizenship or rented out.

Average cost of property. The average cost of renting a three-bedroom apartment in Antigua and Barbuda starts at $4,000. Along with St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda has the highest monthly price for rented property.

To obtain citizenship, investors buy property for at least $300,000. The average price for a government-approved property in Antigua and Barbuda starts at $250,000.

Prices per square metre range from $5,000 to $8,000 and depend on the type of property. Small villas with a bedroom or two cost up to $2,000,000; oceanfront large apartments cost at least $1,000,000.

An investor is not obliged to buy the entire property; they can buy a share — for example, in hotel complexes.

Antigua and Barbuda restricts the types of real estate that can be bought under the citizenship program — the property must be government-approved. It can be sold in 5 years. However, each property can only be sold twice before it is excluded from the CBI program.

Benefits of living in Antigua and Barbuda. The country is developing fast, and investors willing to obtain second citizenship and tourists contribute to the country’s economy.

Education in Antigua and Barbuda is free for those under 16, and there are both public and private schools. Getting an international degree is also possible. The American University of Antigua has agreements with the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine located in Florida and the Warwick School of Medicine — they allow students from Antigua and Barbuda to study in the USA and the UK.

Healthcare in Antigua and Barbuda is on an international level. The Medical Benefit Scheme, available for legal residents of the country, allows citizens to seek primary medical treatment for free.

A family of four’s estimated monthly costs are $4,100 without rent; a single person spends approximately $1,000 a month in Antigua and Barbuda.

Examples of properties in Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Philip

$350,000 — $400,000

Apartments in a hotel complex by the sea

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Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Philip

$300,000 — $2,850,000

Share, apartements, townhouse or villa in a resort on the coast of the island

56 m² — 619 m²

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Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Mary

$300,000 — $715,000

Share and full ownership of apartments in a hotel complex with a private beach

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Benefits of investing in real estate. Grenada is considered to be one of the safest Caribbean countries. It is a perfect place to relocate with a family and enjoy white sand beaches.

Grenada offers a CBI program. One of the options is to buy real estate for $270,000 or more. The investment can be returned in five years. In the meantime, an investor can rent the property out. The annual rental yield in Grenada is 4,3%.

Grenada does not require investors to visit the country to invest in real estate; the procedure is remote. You can choose a property online, and the licensed agent will help you buy it.

Average cost of property. Renting out property in Grenada is less profitable than in other Caribbean countries, except Dominica. The monthly price for a three-bedroom apartment in Grenada is about $3,000.

The price of Grenadian property that qualifies for citizenship by investment program ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 per square metre. An investor can buy a share in a complex for at least $270,000.

Benefits of living in Grenada. Grenada is home to one of the most internationally recognised medical schools, St. George’s University. The School’s graduates can work in the USA — 94% of them got US residency over the last 3 years.

The healthcare system of Grenada is one of the best among the Caribbean countries. The island is small, but there are five public and four private hospitals in Grenada. No household is left without a medical facility nearby.

Grenada is an affordable country. The monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the city centre starts at $600.

Examples of properties in Grenada

Grenada, Saint Davids

$270,000+

Share in a modern SPA complex resort

Grenada, St. George's

$270,000 — $350,000

Share or apartments in full ownership in an oceanfront university complex

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Grenada, Saint Davids

$270,000+

Share in a new resort complex managed by the Intercontinental group

Benefits of investing in real estate. Dominica is called the pearl of the Caribbean. If you want to admire the seaview from your family villa, consider participating in a Dominica citizenship by investment program.

Dominica has one of the most affordable CBI programs. Investors purchase real estate for $200,000 or more.

Property can be rented out after purchase, or sold in 3 years after obtaining citizenship — this is 2 years earlier than in other Caribbean countries. The real estate prices in Dominica grow by 4—5% annually.

Average cost of property. Dominica has the lowest rent prices in the Caribbean — about $2,300 a month for a three-bedroom apartment.

The prices for property that is approved for citizenship by investment program start at $3,000 per square metre. As in Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis, in Dominica it is allowed to purchase resale real estate.

Benefits of living in Dominica. Dominica is a perfect place to enjoy a hassle-free evening with a bottle of wine. Investors and tourists choose Dominica because of its lush nature and spectacular seaview.

Dominica has more than 60 schools, both private and public. Pursuing higher education is possible: there is a branch of the University of the West Indies and a medical school at the All Saints University of Canada. Nationals of Dominica often study in the UK as a part of the agreement between the Commonwealth Nations.

There’s no public healthcare in Dominica. For qualified treatment, Dominican citizens travel to other Caribbean islands.

A family of four’s monthly costs in Dominica are $3,000 plus rent. A single person spends about $1,000 a month, plus rent. Prices for renting property in Dominica start at $600.

Examples of properties in Dominica

Dominica, Portsmouth

$220,000 — $320,000

Share in a five-star resort managed by Autograph Collections (premium branded by Marriott)

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Dominica, Portsmouth

$270,000+

Share in a five-star hotel managed by Intercontinental

Dominica, Roseau

$216,000 — $3,800,000

Share and villas in a six-star resort

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Benefits of investing in real estate. To obtain St Lucia citizenship by investment in real estate, one purchases property for at least $300,000. The investment can be returned in 5 years; however, a non-refundable state-fee of $30,000+ is also paid.

The tourist market in St. Lucia is well-developed due to the island’s affordability. The country is visited by more than 1 million tourists a year, so investment property can be easily used for lease. The rental yield is about 3—5% per year.

Average cost of property. St Lucia has the lowest monthly rent price — about $2,300 monthly for a three-bedroom apartment.

Apartments with one or two bedrooms usually cost at least $400,000; villas by the seashore cost at least $3 million.

Benefits of living in St. Lucia. Many of the medical schools in St Lucia cooperate with international clinics in the USA and other neighbouring countries.

There’s no public healthcare in St Lucia, but the country has a National Health Scheme for legal residents. It does not equal public healthcare and only covers some of the possible health risks.

St Lucia offers an affordable lifestyle. A single person spends $400+ a month without rent. A family of four would expect to spend $1,000+ in St Lucia.

Benefits of investing in real estate. Investing in a stable real estate market in the Bahamas can be profitable; about 9 million people visit the Bahamas every year as tourists.

Investors can buy rental property and make a profit of about 8% a year. The Bahamas are famous for luxury property that is appealing to high-net-worth individuals.

The Bahamas are a tax haven, but there is a real property tax — the percent depends on the property value.

Average cost of property. The average prices for real estate in the Bahamas start at $3 million and depend on the region. For example, one of the most affordable islands, Grand Bahama, offers property starting at $300,000.

Demand usually influences real estate prices in the Bahamas. Oceanfront property with access to beaches is sought after by investors and tourists.

Benefits of living in the Bahamas. The Bahamas is an inviting destination not only for tourists but also for students; there are nine universities to choose from. Among them are the University of the Bahamas, the Bahamas Institute of Business & Technology, and the Institute of Business & Commerce.

The Bahamas are expensive to live in: on average, prices there are about 30% higher than in the US, excluding rent.

Pregnant women, children, and the elderly can benefit from free primary healthcare in the Bahamas.

Benefits of investing in real estate. As an international tax haven, the Cayman Islands have a stable economy. The destination seems to be as popular as the Bahamas for the same reasons — pleasant climate and luxury resort property.

The annual rental yield in the Cayman Islands is up to 8%. The islands have profitable rental returns.

Average cost of property. The prices for a two-bedroom apartment in the Cayman Islands start at $400,000.

The average price for a condominium starts at $3,000,000 and depends on demand and how far the condo is from beaches.

Benefits of living in the Cayman Islands. The only public university in the Cayman Islands is the University College of the Cayman Islands. There are also schools affiliated with international universities — for example, Truman Bodden Law School.

Healthcare in the Cayman Islands is on an international level. There are two private hospitals, the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital.

The Cayman Islands’ residents enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. A family of four spends no less than $5,000 a month without rent.

The most expensive property is in Jamaica and Barbados; prices for real estate there start at $2,000 per square metre. Since the property there is in demand among wealthy tourists, it can be a profitable investment.

Jamaica and Barbados do not offer CBI programs. Foreign buyers of property in Barbados acquire permission to do so. Jamaica does not have any restrictions on foreign property buyers.

The Dominican Republic is another option. The prices there are lower, but the country is as popular as Jamaica and Barbados. The average price for a two-bedroom apartment starts at $100,000.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is probably the cheapest Caribbean state to buy a property. The average price for a square metre there starts at $900.

Despite being affordable, cheaper property might not be as beneficial as property that qualifies for citizenship by investment programs.

The average prices per square metre in the Caribbean countries are as follows:

• $900 — in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;

• $1,350 — in the Dominican Republic;

• $1,900 — in St Lucia;

• $2,000 — in Grenada;

• $2,300 — in Jamaica;

• $3,000 — in Dominica;

• $3,500 — in St Kitts and Nevis;

• $4,500 — in Barbados;

• $5,000 — in the Bahamas;

• $5,600 — in Antigua and Barbuda;

• $9,000 — in the Cayman Islands.

1. Buying real estate in the Caribbean can be a path to citizenship. Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, and Grenada have citizenship by investment programs.

2. The minimum investment in real estate in the Caribbean is $200,000.

3. The average cost of property in the Caribbean is $3,000 per square metre in the regions in demand and $1,000 in off beach areas.

4. The Dominican Republic and Haiti have the most affordable properties but are not the primary options for real estate investors.

5. Investors typically choose countries that provide CBI programs — investment property can be sold in 3—7 years after obtaining citizenship.