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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Bamako versus $1,160 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Bamako versus $2,128 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,059 in Bamako versus $3,097 in Montego Bay.

Living in Bamako costs roughly 22% less than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bamako 34% lower, Montego Bay 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.39 F CFA 4,749

$10.98 JMD 1,731

-23.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.70 F CFA 20.2K

$76.8 JMD 12.1K

-53.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 F CFA 4,532

$8.99 JMD 1,417

-10.90%

Cappuccino

$1.69 F CFA 954

$5.21 JMD 822

-67.56%

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

$0.97 F CFA 551

$0.89 JMD 140

8.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 F CFA 392

$0.68 JMD 107

1.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 F CFA 1,331

$2.15 JMD 339

9.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$21.04 F CFA 11.9K

$3.23 JMD 510

551.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 F CFA 1,103

$3.35 JMD 529

-41.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 F CFA 2,148

$2.66 JMD 420

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 JMD 221

Eggs

$6.00 F CFA 3,394

$3.65 JMD 575

64.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.52 F CFA 9,911

$11.27 JMD 1,776

55.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.86 F CFA 8,972

$6.17 JMD 972

157.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.69 F CFA 7,177

$9.09 JMD 1,432

39.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 F CFA 2,222

$4.15 JMD 655

-5.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 F CFA 603

$2.50 JMD 393

-57.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 F CFA 1,612

$7.21 JMD 1,136

-60.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 F CFA 1,161

$2.51 JMD 396

-18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 F CFA 676

$2.48 JMD 391

-52.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 F CFA 669

$2.68 JMD 422

-55.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.11 F CFA 64.6

$2.54 JMD 401

-95.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 F CFA 1,517

$0.77 JMD 121

248.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.50 JMD 1,498

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 JMD 1,813

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 F CFA 876

$2.90 JMD 458

-46.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 F CFA 928

$4.10 JMD 647

-60.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 JMD 144

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 JMD 154

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 F CFA 683

$3.13 JMD 493

-61.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 JMD 994

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 F CFA 634

$1.39 JMD 219

-19.42%

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

$45.1K JMD 7.1M

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

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

$149 F CFA 84.1K

$175 JMD 27.6K

-15.22%

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

$22.70 JMD 3,577

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 F CFA 36.1K

$47.81 JMD 7,535

33.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.0 F CFA 39.6K

$45.10 JMD 7,107

55.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.77 JMD 1,382

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

$366 JMD 57.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,395 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.06 JMD 3,791

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.13 JMD 5,064

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 JMD 11.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$175 F CFA 99.1K

$316 JMD 49.8K

-44.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.6 F CFA 44.5K

$224 JMD 35.2K

-64.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 F CFA 286.2K

$960 JMD 151.4K

-47.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 F CFA 170.3K

$955 JMD 150.5K

-68.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,253 F CFA 708.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$265 F CFA 149.6K

$599 JMD 94.4K

-55.84%

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 Bamako: August 29, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $175 in Bamako and $316 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montego Bay pays 126% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Bamako vs $77.0 in Montego Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $349 vs $327, with Montego Bay cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bamako vs Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bamako wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Montego Bay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bamako the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 126% lower in Montego Bay. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $175 in Bamako versus $316 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $905 per month in Bamako versus $1,160 in Montego Bay – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Montego Bay pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $905 in Bamako versus $1,160 in Montego Bay, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bamako but tight or insufficient in Montego Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Bamako the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Bamako gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.