Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Montego Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria and Montego Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $899 in Alexandria versus $1,287 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Alexandria versus $1,759 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,952 in Alexandria versus $2,231 in Montego Bay.

Living in Alexandria costs roughly 30% less than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 33% lower, Montego Bay 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 JMD 1,205

$7.69 JMD 1,208

-0.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 JMD 9,881

$50.9 JMD 7,988

23.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,344

$7.30 JMD 1,147

17.26%

Cappuccino

$4.37 JMD 687

$4.38 JMD 688

-0.23%

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

$1.38 JMD 216

$1.37 JMD 216

0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 JMD 113

$0.71 JMD 112

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 JMD 400

$2.48 JMD 389

2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 477

$3.08 JMD 484

-1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.35 JMD 683

$2.52 JMD 396

72.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 JMD 569

$2.68 JMD 421

35.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 JMD 243

$1.57 JMD 246

-1.27%

Eggs

$3.57 JMD 561

$3.60 JMD 565

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 JMD 1,716

$11.03 JMD 1,732

-0.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 JMD 989

$6.43 JMD 1,010

-2.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 JMD 1,195

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-2.06%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 JMD 958

$3.37 JMD 529

81.01%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.09 JMD 486

1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.15 JMD 652

$2.84 JMD 445

46.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 JMD 455

$1.76 JMD 277

64.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 320

$2.12 JMD 333

-3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 311

$1.13 JMD 177

75.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 486

$1.91 JMD 300

62.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 234

$0.93 JMD 146

60.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,357

$8.61 JMD 1,352

0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 JMD 1,784

$11.46 JMD 1,800

-0.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 JMD 431

$2.11 JMD 331

30.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.06 JMD 481

3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 JMD 146

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 169

$0.93 JMD 146

16.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.22 JMD 505

-3.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 JMD 957

$6.37 JMD 1,001

-4.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.24 JMD 195

3.23%

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

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

$42.3K JMD 6.6M

-0.20%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-0.21%

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

$162 JMD 25.4K

$163 JMD 25.6K

-0.53%

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

$22.32 JMD 3,506

$21.26 JMD 3,339

4.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 JMD 7,943

$47.70 JMD 7,491

6.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 JMD 5,866

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 JMD 2,072

$7.54 JMD 1,185

74.93%

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

$229 JMD 36.0K

$62.6 JMD 9,827

266.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 394.6K

$1,882 JMD 295.6K

33.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.06 JMD 4,094

$26.12 JMD 4,102

-0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.60 JMD 4,021

$20.10 JMD 3,157

27.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 JMD 11.0K

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

5.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

2.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 JMD 40.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 JMD 72.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 JMD 105.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 JMD 67.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 JMD 88.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

14.38%

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

Last update for Alexandria: April 26, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Alexandria vs $51.0 in Montego Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $284 per month, with Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria and Montego Bay differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($899 vs $1,287 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,348 in Alexandria and $1,931 in Montego Bay 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.

Childcare runs $229 in Alexandria versus $62.6 in Montego Bay. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Alexandria – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $51.0 in Montego Bay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Alexandria 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 Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.