Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,016 in Alexandria versus $1,684 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,684 in Alexandria versus $2,889 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,352 in Alexandria versus $4,093 in Kingston.

Living in Alexandria costs roughly 40% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Alexandria is 26% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.90 JMD 2,505
$15.95 JMD 2,513
-0.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.4 JMD 12.0K
$74.4 JMD 11.7K
2.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.97 JMD 1,413
$8.81 JMD 1,388
1.82%
Cappuccino
$5.45 JMD 858
$5.22 JMD 823
4.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 JMD 187
$1.19 JMD 188
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 JMD 108
$0.69 JMD 109
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 JMD 339
$2.19 JMD 345
-1.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 JMD 483
$3.08 JMD 486
-0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.23 JMD 667
$4.06 JMD 639
4.19%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 JMD 602
$3.74 JMD 589
2.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 JMD 256
$1.66 JMD 261
-2.41%
Eggs
$3.51 JMD 554
$3.61 JMD 570
-2.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 JMD 1,778
$11.58 JMD 1,826
-2.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.22 JMD 980
$6.19 JMD 975
0.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.42 JMD 1,642
$10.12 JMD 1,595
2.96%
Apples (1kg)
$5.92 JMD 933
$6.12 JMD 964
-3.27%
Banana (1kg)
$3.95 JMD 622
$3.99 JMD 629
-1.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.47 JMD 1,178
$7.48 JMD 1,179
-0.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.99 JMD 471
$3.11 JMD 491
-3.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 JMD 509
$3.23 JMD 510
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 JMD 422
$2.64 JMD 416
1.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 JMD 477
$3.01 JMD 474
0.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 JMD 231
$1.46 JMD 231
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.36 JMD 1,475
$9.74 JMD 1,534
-3.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.54 JMD 1,819
$11.32 JMD 1,785
1.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 JMD 443
$2.78 JMD 439
1.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 JMD 639
$3.96 JMD 625
2.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.81 JMD 128
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$38.60 JMD 6,082
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 JMD 184
$1.23 JMD 193
-4.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 JMD 508
$3.14 JMD 496
2.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.20 JMD 978
$6.15 JMD 970
0.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 JMD 220
$1.36 JMD 215
2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.4K JMD 7.0M
$43.7K JMD 6.9M
1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K JMD 5.1M
$32.4K JMD 5.1M
-0.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 JMD 27.2K
$172 JMD 27.1K
0.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.02 JMD 4,731
$29.66 JMD 4,675
1.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5 JMD 8,434
$52.5 JMD 8,278
1.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$62.6 JMD 9,862
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.94 JMD 2,827
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.41 JMD 2,114
$13.35 JMD 2,103
0.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$366 JMD 57.7K
$367 JMD 57.8K
-0.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,169 JMD 1.3M
$8,302 JMD 1.3M
-1.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.84 JMD 3,756
$23.88 JMD 3,764
-0.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 JMD 4,964
$31.86 JMD 5,020
-1.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 JMD 12.2K
$79.2 JMD 12.5K
-1.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 JMD 16.2K
$102 JMD 16.1K
1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$972 JMD 153.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$563 JMD 88.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,117 JMD 333.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,434 JMD 226.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,902 JMD 457.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,054 JMD 323.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$757 JMD 119.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.45
9.45
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alexandria: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kingston: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $76.0 in Alexandria vs $74.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $384 per month, with Kingston 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 in Kingston?
Alexandria and Kingston differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,016 vs $1,684 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 $1,525 in Alexandria and $2,526 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 $366 in Alexandria versus $367 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 $76.0 versus $74.0 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 $1,016 in Alexandria versus $1,684 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 66% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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