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: $919 in Bamako versus $1,280 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Bamako versus $1,773 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,116 in Bamako versus $2,266 in Montego Bay.

Living in Bamako costs roughly 28% less than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bamako 31% lower, Montego Bay 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 F CFA 3,899

$7.35 JMD 1,158

-7.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.30 F CFA 21.4K

$50.4 JMD 7,941

-25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 F CFA 3,712

$7.41 JMD 1,168

-12.69%

Cappuccino

$1.84 F CFA 1,057

$4.27 JMD 673

-56.91%

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

$0.81 F CFA 462

$1.37 JMD 216

-40.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 F CFA 346

$0.74 JMD 117

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 F CFA 1,332

$2.52 JMD 397

-7.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$20.92 F CFA 12.0K

$3.04 JMD 479

588.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 F CFA 1,328

$2.53 JMD 399

-8.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 F CFA 2,215

$2.67 JMD 420

44.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

Eggs

$6.59 F CFA 3,782

$3.47 JMD 547

89.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.13 F CFA 10.4K

$11.26 JMD 1,774

61.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.66 F CFA 8,982

$6.33 JMD 998

147.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 F CFA 7,224

$7.49 JMD 1,181

68.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 F CFA 2,233

$3.36 JMD 529

15.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 F CFA 594

$3.00 JMD 473

-65.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 F CFA 1,609

$2.80 JMD 442

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 F CFA 1,189

$1.85 JMD 291

11.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 F CFA 773

$2.05 JMD 323

-34.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 F CFA 812

$1.08 JMD 170

30.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.09 F CFA 52.8

$1.92 JMD 303

-95.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 F CFA 1,583

$0.99 JMD 155

178.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.90 F CFA 518

$8.82 JMD 1,390

-89.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 JMD 1,789

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 F CFA 887

$2.19 JMD 344

-29.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 F CFA 922

$3.10 JMD 488

-48.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.61 F CFA 2,642

$0.90 JMD 142

412.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 JMD 143

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 F CFA 694

$3.14 JMD 495

-61.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 JMD 961

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 F CFA 678

$1.23 JMD 195

-4.07%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

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

$148 F CFA 84.9K

$165 JMD 26.1K

-10.48%

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

$21.18 JMD 3,337

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.6 F CFA 33.0K

$47.01 JMD 7,408

22.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 F CFA 39.3K

$36.92 JMD 5,819

85.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.13 F CFA 2,367

Cinema Ticket

$5.52 F CFA 3,163

$7.68 JMD 1,211

-28.13%

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

$64.3 JMD 10.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,894 JMD 298.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.48 JMD 4,173

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.91 JMD 3,138

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 JMD 10.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.5 JMD 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 F CFA 99.5K

$260 JMD 41.0K

-33.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.8 F CFA 45.8K

$450 JMD 71.0K

-82.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$412 F CFA 236.3K

$663 JMD 104.5K

-37.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 F CFA 173.5K

$443 JMD 69.8K

-31.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 F CFA 702.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 F CFA 147.4K

$557 JMD 87.7K

-53.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bamako: July 14, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Bamako and $260 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montego Bay pays 117% 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 $357 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 39% 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 117% 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: $174 in Bamako versus $260 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $919 per month in Bamako versus $1,280 in Montego Bay – a 39% 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 39% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.