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: $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
$7.32 JMD 1,147
$7.61 JMD 1,192
-3.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 JMD 9,669
$62.0 JMD 9,707
-0.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 JMD 1,376
$8.80 JMD 1,379
-0.23%
Cappuccino
$4.40 JMD 689
$4.36 JMD 682
0.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 JMD 213
$1.32 JMD 207
3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 JMD 112
$0.74 JMD 117
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 JMD 380
$2.57 JMD 403
-5.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 JMD 478
$3.20 JMD 501
-4.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.24 JMD 665
$4.36 JMD 684
-2.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 JMD 568
$3.66 JMD 573
-1.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 JMD 243
$1.57 JMD 246
-1.27%
Eggs
$3.46 JMD 543
$3.47 JMD 543
-0.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.89 JMD 1,706
$11.19 JMD 1,754
-2.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.30 JMD 988
$6.42 JMD 1,007
-1.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 JMD 1,174
$7.82 JMD 1,225
-4.22%
Apples (1kg)
$6.05 JMD 948
$5.96 JMD 933
1.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.02 JMD 473
$3.13 JMD 491
-3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 JMD 650
$4.30 JMD 673
-3.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.06 JMD 480
$2.96 JMD 464
3.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 JMD 329
$2.03 JMD 317
3.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 JMD 303
$2.01 JMD 315
-3.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.11 JMD 488
$3.12 JMD 489
-0.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 JMD 234
$1.45 JMD 227
2.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.69 JMD 1,361
$8.89 JMD 1,393
-2.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.55 JMD 1,809
$11.29 JMD 1,769
2.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 JMD 447
$2.90 JMD 454
-1.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 JMD 478
$3.20 JMD 502
-4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.89 JMD 140
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$48.53 JMD 7,604
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 JMD 175
$1.12 JMD 176
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.20 JMD 501
$3.15 JMD 494
1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.11 JMD 957
$6.19 JMD 971
-1.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 JMD 192
$1.28 JMD 201
-3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K JMD 6.8M
$43.2K JMD 6.8M
0.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K JMD 5.2M
$33.8K JMD 5.3M
-2.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 JMD 25.3K
$163 JMD 25.5K
-0.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.32 JMD 3,497
$22.49 JMD 3,523
-0.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2 JMD 8,016
$50.7 JMD 7,942
0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$69.4 JMD 10.9K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.50 JMD 2,428
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.40 JMD 2,100
$12.92 JMD 2,024
3.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 JMD 35.9K
$222 JMD 34.8K
3.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,485 JMD 389.3K
$2,451 JMD 384.0K
1.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.84 JMD 4,049
$25.73 JMD 4,032
0.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.62 JMD 4,014
$25.24 JMD 3,955
1.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 JMD 11.2K
$72.4 JMD 11.3K
-1.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.2 JMD 11.9K
$75.6 JMD 11.8K
0.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$880 JMD 137.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$451 JMD 70.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,021 JMD 316.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,204 JMD 188.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,863 JMD 448.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,192 JMD 343.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$732 JMD 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.

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