Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,016 in Alexandria versus $713 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,684 in Alexandria versus $818 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,352 in Alexandria versus $924 in May Pen.

Living in Alexandria is roughly 42% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 26% lower, May Pen 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.90 JMD 2,505

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.4 JMD 12.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 JMD 1,413

Cappuccino

$5.45 JMD 858

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 JMD 187

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 108

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 339

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 483

Milk (1 liter)

$4.23 JMD 667

$2.20 JMD 346

92.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 JMD 602

$3.87 JMD 610

-1.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 256

$3.25 JMD 511

-50.15%

Eggs

$3.51 JMD 554

$3.46 JMD 545

1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.28 JMD 1,778

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 JMD 980

$7.79 JMD 1,228

-20.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.42 JMD 1,642

$5.19 JMD 817

100.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.92 JMD 933

$1.54 JMD 243

284.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.95 JMD 622

$5.10 JMD 804

-22.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.47 JMD 1,178

$6.30 JMD 993

18.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 JMD 471

$1.85 JMD 292

61.62%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 JMD 509

$1.87 JMD 294

72.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 JMD 422

$1.93 JMD 304

38.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 JMD 477

$3.23 JMD 509

-6.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 JMD 231

$2.78 JMD 438

-47.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.36 JMD 1,475

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 JMD 1,819

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 443

$2.27 JMD 358

23.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 JMD 639

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 JMD 184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 508

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.20 JMD 978

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 220

$1.38 JMD 217

0.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.4K JMD 7.0M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.3K JMD 5.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 JMD 27.2K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.02 JMD 4,731

$43.22 JMD 6,811

-30.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.5 JMD 8,434

$54.7 JMD 8,625

-2.21%

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 JMD 2,114

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$366 JMD 57.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,169 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.84 JMD 3,756

$15.94 JMD 2,512

49.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.50 JMD 4,964

$21.70 JMD 3,420

45.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

$41.25 JMD 6,500

88.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.2K

$54.2 JMD 8,537

90.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 May Pen: August 30, 2026

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria and May Pen differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,016 vs $713 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,525 in Alexandria and $1,070 in May Pen 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Alexandria. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,016 per month in Alexandria versus $713 in May Pen – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though May Pen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.