Relocation intelligence
🇧🇶 Moving to Caribbean Netherlands: tax, residency and cost of living
The Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire) levies an income tax with an exempt base and then a flat rate of about 30.4%, rising to 35.4% at high incomes. The effective burden on an income worth roughly EUR 54,000 is around 22%. The territory uses the US dollar and the general expenditure tax is about 8%. As a special Dutch municipality, Bonaire offers Dutch institutions and a Caribbean climate, but is small, with high import costs and limited specialist healthcare.
Thinking of moving to Caribbean Netherlands? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.
Key facts
- Top income tax
- 35.4%
- Corporate tax
- 0%
- Capital gains
- 0%
- Wealth tax
- No
- Inheritance tax
- No
- Cost of living index
- 48
- Safety
- 8/10
- Internet quality
- 7/10
- Visa-free destinations
- 189
- Foreigners can own property
- Yes
- Residency in
- 6 months
- Citizenship in
- 5 years
Taxes
Income tax with an exempt base and then about 30.4%, rising to 35.4%, effectively around 22% at EUR 54,000. Expenditure tax about 8%.
Residency and visas
For Dutch citizens settling is free; others follow special admission rules. Dutch institutions provide legal certainty.
Property ownership
Foreigners can generally acquire property and the market is relatively accessible, though prices have risen.
Cost of living and quality of life
Bonaire offers a Caribbean climate, the dollar and Dutch institutions, but is small, with high import costs and limited specialist healthcare.
Passport and mobility
Residents are Dutch citizens and travel on a Dutch passport, with visa-free access to about 189 destinations.
Why people move to Caribbean Netherlands
Dutch institutions in the Caribbean
As a special Dutch municipality Bonaire offers Dutch legal certainty, governance and banking in a tropical setting.
Uses the US dollar
The territory uses the US dollar, which limits exchange-rate risk and keeps international transactions simple.
Honest trade-offs
- Bonaire is klein, met hoge invoerkosten en beperkte specialistische gezondheidszorg; voor complexe zorg is men aangewezen op elders.
- De inkomstenbelasting kent na de vrijgestelde voet een vlak tarief van circa 30,4%, oplopend tot 35,4%; effectief rond 22% bij een westers inkomen.
- De vastgoedprijzen zijn de afgelopen jaren gestegen, wat vestiging kostbaarder maakt.
See how Caribbean Netherlands scores for your situation
Get your personal Freedom Score and a full relocation comparison based on your income, family and goals.
Calculate my score