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: $918 in Bamako versus $1,298 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,506 in Bamako versus $1,772 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,095 in Bamako versus $2,246 in Montego Bay.

Living in Bamako costs roughly 29% less than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bamako 32% lower, Montego Bay 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 F CFA 3,823

$7.71 JMD 1,209

-12.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 F CFA 21.0K

$50.3 JMD 7,880

-25.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 F CFA 3,632

$7.29 JMD 1,143

-11.66%

Cappuccino

$1.93 F CFA 1,091

$4.31 JMD 675

-55.22%

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

$0.78 F CFA 440

$1.35 JMD 212

-42.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 F CFA 339

$0.74 JMD 117

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 F CFA 1,386

$2.53 JMD 396

-2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$21.27 F CFA 12.0K

$3.22 JMD 504

560.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 F CFA 1,313

$2.49 JMD 389

-6.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 F CFA 2,121

$2.71 JMD 424

38.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 254

Eggs

$6.78 F CFA 3,822

$3.55 JMD 556

90.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.03 F CFA 10.2K

$10.96 JMD 1,718

64.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.65 F CFA 8,827

$6.34 JMD 993

146.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.50 F CFA 7,051

$7.70 JMD 1,207

62.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 F CFA 2,192

$3.50 JMD 549

11.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 F CFA 579

$3.09 JMD 484

-66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 F CFA 1,605

$2.70 JMD 423

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 F CFA 1,198

$1.75 JMD 274

21.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 758

$2.08 JMD 326

-35.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 F CFA 803

$1.08 JMD 170

31.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.09 F CFA 48.95

$1.90 JMD 298

-95.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 F CFA 1,526

$0.97 JMD 152

179.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.91 F CFA 513

$8.58 JMD 1,344

-89.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 JMD 1,778

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 F CFA 870

$2.18 JMD 342

-29.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 F CFA 911

$3.09 JMD 484

-47.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.63 F CFA 2,609

$0.90 JMD 141

414.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 JMD 154

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 F CFA 710

$3.20 JMD 501

-60.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.32 JMD 990

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 F CFA 678

$1.24 JMD 194

-3.23%

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

$43.5K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

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

$152 F CFA 85.8K

$165 JMD 25.9K

-8.10%

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

$21.88 JMD 3,428

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.9 F CFA 32.1K

$47.78 JMD 7,487

19.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 F CFA 38.7K

$37.94 JMD 5,944

80.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.10 F CFA 2,315

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 F CFA 3,283

$7.58 JMD 1,188

-23.22%

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

$63.5 JMD 9,946

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,906 JMD 298.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.39 JMD 4,135

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.08 JMD 3,146

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.8 JMD 10.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 JMD 11.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$173 F CFA 97.4K

$261 JMD 40.9K

-33.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$81.1 F CFA 45.7K

$451 JMD 70.7K

-82.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 F CFA 226.6K

$655 JMD 102.7K

-38.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 F CFA 168.4K

$439 JMD 68.8K

-31.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,246 F CFA 702.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$264 F CFA 148.6K

$556 JMD 87.1K

-52.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bamako: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $173 in Bamako and $261 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montego Bay pays 111% 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: $37.00 in Bamako vs $50.0 in Montego Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $283, 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 41% 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, Montego Bay earns 111% less. 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: $173 in Bamako versus $261 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Bamako versus $1,298 in Montego Bay – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Montego Bay pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bamako 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 Bamako gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.