How our calculators work

Everything on CaribTools runs in your browser using built-in reference data and transparent formulas. This page explains where the figures come from, what each tool assumes, and the limits you should keep in mind. Last reviewed 10 September 2026.

Currency converter

The converter uses indicative mid-market reference rates expressed per 1 US dollar, covering the US dollar, euro and six Caribbean currencies (JMD, TTD, BBD, XCD, GYD and BSD). These are curated reference values for planning — they are not a live feed and are not tied to a real-time market data source. Cross-rates are calculated by dividing one reference rate by the other.

Because banks, cambios, card networks and money-transfer services add their own spread or fees, the amount you actually receive will usually differ from the raw reference conversion. Always confirm the current rate with your bank or a licensed service before transacting.

Remittance fee comparison

The comparison starts from typical, publicly published fee and FX-margin figures for each provider, then adjusts the fee by a per-corridor multiplier (cash-pickup corridors typically cost more than bank/mobile destinations). For each provider it estimates the recipient amount as (amount − fee) × effective rate, where the effective rate is the mid-market reference rate minus the provider's FX margin.

These are illustrative figures, not live quotes. Promotions, payment method, card fees and settlement speed all change the real price, so the ranking is a starting point for comparison rather than a guarantee that any provider is always cheapest.

Cost of living

Each country uses a baseline of typical monthly costs for rent, utilities, groceries, transport and dining, blended from published city prices. Household size and lifestyle then scale those categories: solo, couple and family-of-four apply different multipliers to rent and utilities, and the lifestyle choice (budget, balanced, comfortable) scales groceries and dining.

Totals are shown in both US dollars and the local currency using the same indicative reference rates. The model deliberately excludes school fees, cars, insurance and imported appliances, which can add significantly. Treat the output as a planning estimate, not a quote.

Import duty

The import duty tool uses a simplified national-style model rather than official tariff schedules. It applies a base duty rate, an excise / motor-vehicle tax tier selected by engine size, an age multiplier for older vehicles, and a reduced rate for electric vehicles, then adds VAT on the landed cost and a registration estimate.

Real customs charges depend on the HS code, country of origin, current legislation and the assessing officer's practice, and can differ substantially. This tool is for budgeting only — confirm the exact figures with the relevant customs authority before ordering or shipping.

Citizenship by investment

The citizenship comparison uses indicative published programme figures: the minimum fund contribution or real-estate threshold, estimated government/processing fees, and due-diligence fees per adult and dependent. It scales these to the applicant's family size and chosen route (fund or real estate), then compares the same route across the four programmes.

These are headline figures for planning. They exclude agent/legal fees, sourcing fees, background-check nuances, travel and translation costs, and they change when governments update their programmes. Always confirm current requirements with the official programme unit and a licensed agent.

Flight distance & time

Distances are the great-circle distance between published airport coordinates, calculated with the haversine formula on a spherical Earth (radius 6,371 km), then converted to miles. Flight time is a rough block-time estimate: the distance is divided by a typical cruise speed, using a faster narrowbody-jet speed for longer routes and a slower regional-turboprop speed for shorter ones.

This is not a real flight path or schedule. Actual flights follow airways and weather, hold for traffic and spend time taxiing, so flown distance and gate-to-gate time are usually longer than these straight-line estimates.

Data freshness and limitations

Rates and figures are indicative reference data for planning purposes, not live financial data, and are reviewed periodically. Every figure is an estimate. CaribTools is not affiliated with any bank, customs agency or government programme, and nothing here is financial, legal, tax or immigration advice.