🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $884 in Alexandria versus $1,451 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Alexandria versus $2,475 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,015 in Alexandria versus $3,498 in Kingston.
🙂Living in Alexandria costs roughly 39% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Alexandria is 34% below, Kingston is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.32JMD 1,147
$7.61JMD 1,192
-3.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7JMD 9,669
$62.0JMD 9,707
-0.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.78JMD 1,376
$8.80JMD 1,379
-0.23%
Cappuccino
$4.40JMD 689
$4.36JMD 682
0.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36JMD 213
$1.32JMD 207
3.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72JMD 112
$0.74JMD 117
-2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43JMD 380
$2.57JMD 403
-5.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05JMD 478
$3.20JMD 501
-4.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.24JMD 665
$4.36JMD 684
-2.75%
White Bread(500g)
$3.62JMD 568
$3.66JMD 573
-1.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55JMD 243
$1.57JMD 246
-1.27%
Eggs
$3.46JMD 543
$3.47JMD 543
-0.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.89JMD 1,706
$11.19JMD 1,754
-2.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.30JMD 988
$6.42JMD 1,007
-1.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.49JMD 1,174
$7.82JMD 1,225
-4.22%
Apples(1kg)
$6.05JMD 948
$5.96JMD 933
1.51%
Banana(1kg)
$3.02JMD 473
$3.13JMD 491
-3.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.15JMD 650
$4.30JMD 673
-3.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06JMD 480
$2.96JMD 464
3.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10JMD 329
$2.03JMD 317
3.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93JMD 303
$2.01JMD 315
-3.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.11JMD 488
$3.12JMD 489
-0.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49JMD 234
$1.45JMD 227
2.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.69JMD 1,361
$8.89JMD 1,393
-2.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.55JMD 1,809
$11.29JMD 1,769
2.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85JMD 447
$2.90JMD 454
-1.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05JMD 478
$3.20JMD 502
-4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89JMD 140
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$48.53JMD 7,604
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.12JMD 175
$1.12JMD 176
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.20JMD 501
$3.15JMD 494
1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.11JMD 957
$6.19JMD 971
-1.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23JMD 192
$1.28JMD 201
-3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3KJMD 6.8M
$43.2KJMD 6.8M
0.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KJMD 5.2M
$33.8KJMD 5.3M
-2.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161JMD 25.3K
$163JMD 25.5K
-0.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.32JMD 3,497
$22.49JMD 3,523
-0.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2JMD 8,016
$50.7JMD 7,942
0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$69.4JMD 10.9K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.50JMD 2,428
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.40JMD 2,100
$12.92JMD 2,024
3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$229JMD 35.9K
$222JMD 34.8K
3.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,485JMD 389.3K
$2,451JMD 384.0K
1.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.84JMD 4,049
$25.73JMD 4,032
0.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.62JMD 4,014
$25.24JMD 3,955
1.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5JMD 11.2K
$72.4JMD 11.3K
-1.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.2JMD 11.9K
$75.6JMD 11.8K
0.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$880JMD 137.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$451JMD 70.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,021JMD 316.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,204JMD 188.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,863JMD 448.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,192JMD 343.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$732JMD 114.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
9.15
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandria: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Alexandria vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $353 per month, with Alexandria cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alexandria vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alexandria and Kingston?
Alexandria and Kingston differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($884 vs $1,451 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Alexandria compared to Kingston?
You'd need roughly $1,326 in Alexandria and $2,177 in Kingston to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alexandria and Kingston?
Childcare runs $229 in Alexandria versus $222 in Kingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Alexandria – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $62.0 in Kingston. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $884 in Alexandria versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alexandria and Kingston?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Alexandria or Kingston?
Expats usually find Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alexandria vs other spots: cost of living compared