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: $875 in Alexandria versus $1,295 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Alexandria versus $1,753 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,962 in Alexandria versus $2,210 in Montego Bay.

Living in Alexandria costs roughly 32% less than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria 34% lower, Montego Bay 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,211

$7.54 JMD 1,188

1.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 JMD 9,960

$50.2 JMD 7,898

26.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 JMD 1,363

$7.72 JMD 1,215

12.18%

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 691

$4.31 JMD 678

1.86%

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

$1.38 JMD 217

$1.32 JMD 209

4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.76 JMD 120

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 385

$2.46 JMD 388

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 482

$3.07 JMD 484

-0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.23 JMD 666

$2.47 JMD 390

71.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 JMD 565

$2.82 JMD 444

27.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 246

$1.60 JMD 252

-2.50%

Eggs

$3.59 JMD 566

$3.46 JMD 544

3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 JMD 1,716

$11.12 JMD 1,752

-2.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 JMD 1,019

$6.46 JMD 1,017

0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$7.69 JMD 1,211

-1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 JMD 975

$3.35 JMD 528

84.78%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 JMD 474

$3.14 JMD 495

-4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 JMD 672

$2.74 JMD 431

55.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 466

$1.79 JMD 281

65.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 316

$2.04 JMD 321

-1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$1.13 JMD 177

71.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 488

$1.84 JMD 290

68.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 JMD 230

$0.93 JMD 147

56.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.91 JMD 1,404

$8.80 JMD 1,386

1.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.42 JMD 1,799

$11.16 JMD 1,758

2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 JMD 439

$2.12 JMD 334

31.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 JMD 502

$3.15 JMD 496

1.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 145

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

$0.96 JMD 152

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 498

$3.25 JMD 512

-2.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 JMD 1,005

$6.13 JMD 966

4.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.23 JMD 194

0.81%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

-0.09%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

3.47%

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

$161 JMD 25.4K

$164 JMD 25.8K

-1.66%

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

$22.05 JMD 3,473

$21.61 JMD 3,404

2.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 JMD 7,917

$48.06 JMD 7,569

4.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 JMD 5,869

Cinema Ticket

$12.94 JMD 2,039

$7.57 JMD 1,192

70.94%

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

$223 JMD 35.1K

$62.7 JMD 9,870

255.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,485 JMD 391.4K

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

34.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.59 JMD 4,187

$26.57 JMD 4,185

0.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.10 JMD 3,953

$19.57 JMD 3,083

28.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

6.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 JMD 12.2K

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 JMD 41.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 JMD 104.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 87.0K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Alexandria vs $50.0 in Montego Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 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 48% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $1,295 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,313 in Alexandria and $1,943 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 $223 in Alexandria versus $62.7 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 $50.0 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 48% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.