Cost of Living Comparison Between Chalcis and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Chalcis and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,482 in Chalcis versus $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,207 in Chalcis versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,933 in Chalcis versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Monthly costs are close between Chalcis and Kingston; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chalcis 11% above, Kingston 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.56 €11.85
$7.46 JMD 1,176
81.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.40 €42.29
$61.7 JMD 9,720
-21.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.18 €8.02
$8.58 JMD 1,352
6.99%
Cappuccino
$4.31 €3.77
$4.39 JMD 692
-1.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 €1.44
$1.33 JMD 209
23.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.52
$0.74 JMD 117
-18.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 €2.86
$2.43 JMD 383
34.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 €3.45
$3.10 JMD 489
27.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.29
$4.33 JMD 682
-65.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 €1.38
$3.49 JMD 551
-54.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$1.64 JMD 258
23.17%
Eggs
$4.05 €3.54
$3.61 JMD 568
12.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.69 €11.96
$11.20 JMD 1,765
22.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.02 €8.76
$6.45 JMD 1,016
55.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.11 €11.46
$7.82 JMD 1,232
67.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$5.99 JMD 945
-66.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 €1.63
$2.98 JMD 470
-37.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.12 €0.97
$4.21 JMD 663
-73.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 €1.69
$2.90 JMD 457
-33.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 €0.94
$2.02 JMD 319
-46.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 €1.07
$2.00 JMD 315
-39.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 €0.87
$3.01 JMD 475
-66.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 €0.42
$1.51 JMD 238
-67.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89 €4.27
$8.61 JMD 1,357
-43.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.42 €5.61
$11.47 JMD 1,808
-44.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 €1.42
$2.78 JMD 438
-41.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 €2.15
$3.04 JMD 480
-19.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.18
$0.81 JMD 128
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.91 €40.98
$49.18 JMD 7,751
-4.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 €4.00
$1.09 JMD 171
320.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.89
$3.22 JMD 507
-68.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.75 €12.01
$6.34 JMD 999
116.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 €1.84
$1.24 JMD 196
69.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K €30.2K
$43.4K JMD 6.8M
-20.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K €25.3K
$34.1K JMD 5.4M
-14.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$289 €252
$161 JMD 25.3K
79.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.80 €20.80
$22.24 JMD 3,504
7.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.88 €26.98
$52.0 JMD 8,191
-40.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.8 €61.0
$68.9 JMD 10.9K
1.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.91 JMD 2,508
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.71 €8.48
$13.38 JMD 2,109
-27.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 €253
$222 JMD 35.0K
30.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,578 €4,873
$2,532 JMD 399.1K
120.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 €95.9
$25.81 JMD 4,068
325.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.11 €34.17
$25.49 JMD 4,017
53.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 €87.7
$70.8 JMD 11.2K
41.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 €82.4
$74.9 JMD 11.8K
25.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 €448
$880 JMD 138.6K
-41.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 €328
$451 JMD 71.2K
-16.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$780 €681
$2,007 JMD 316.2K
-61.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 €529
$1,188 JMD 187.2K
-49.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,466 €2,155
$2,866 JMD 451.6K
-13.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,029 €1,773
$2,153 JMD 339.4K
-5.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chalcis
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,070 €934
$732 JMD 115.4K
46.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.34
9.15
-52.57%

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

Last update for Chalcis: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Chalcis and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chalcis pays 46% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $48.00 in Chalcis vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $351 per month, with Chalcis 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
Chalcis vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Chalcis or Kingston?
Average pay runs 46% higher in Chalcis, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Chalcis and Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Chalcis versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chalcis runs roughly 5% less than in Kingston. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Chalcis and in Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chalcis or in Kingston?
At $1,482 in Chalcis versus $1,482 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chalcis but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Chalcis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Chalcis or in Kingston?
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.
Which city is safer, Chalcis or Kingston?
Safety-wise, Chalcis and Kingston are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Chalcis wins on affordability, Kingston on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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