Cost of Living Comparison Between Dalton, GA and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Dalton, GA and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,824 in Dalton, GA versus $1,451 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,567 in Dalton, GA versus $2,475 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,311 in Dalton, GA versus $3,498 in Kingston.

Living in Dalton, GA is roughly 26% more expensive than Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dalton, GA 36% above, Kingston 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 $16.22

$7.61 JMD 1,196

113.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.37 $47.37

$62.0 JMD 9,741

-23.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 $5.83

$8.80 JMD 1,384

-33.75%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$4.36 JMD 685

15.83%

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

$1.87 $1.87

$1.32 JMD 207

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.74 JMD 117

33.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.57 JMD 404

98.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.20 JMD 502

24.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$4.36 JMD 686

-78.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.66 JMD 575

-10.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.57 JMD 247

69.43%

Eggs

$3.23 $3.23

$3.47 JMD 545

-6.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.19 JMD 1,760

6.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$6.42 JMD 1,010

89.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 $8.18

$7.82 JMD 1,229

4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.96 JMD 937

-37.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.13 JMD 492

-48.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.30 JMD 676

-14.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.96 JMD 465

-14.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.03 JMD 319

-7.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.01 JMD 316

11.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$3.12 JMD 490

-43.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.45 JMD 228

4.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 $4.30

$8.89 JMD 1,398

-51.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 $10.29

$11.29 JMD 1,775

-8.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 $1.30

$2.90 JMD 455

-55.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 $1.30

$3.20 JMD 504

-59.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.89 JMD 140

122.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.12 JMD 177

344.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$3.15 JMD 496

-50.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.08 $18.08

$6.19 JMD 974

192.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.28 JMD 202

-39.06%

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

$16.7K $16.7K

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-61.38%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-23.03%

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

$181 $181

$163 JMD 25.6K

11.08%

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

$45.79 $45.79

$22.49 JMD 3,536

103.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.3 $62.3

$50.7 JMD 7,970

22.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.77 $43.77

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

-36.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,437

Cinema Ticket

$9.20 $9.20

$12.92 JMD 2,031

-28.79%

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

$978 $978

$222 JMD 34.9K

340.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,239 $8,239

$2,451 JMD 385.4K

236.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.33 $26.33

$25.73 JMD 4,046

2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.83 $26.83

$25.24 JMD 3,969

6.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 $80.0

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

10.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.2 $66.2

$75.6 JMD 11.9K

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 $971

$880 JMD 138.4K

10.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 $789

$451 JMD 70.9K

74.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,463 $1,463

$2,021 JMD 317.8K

-27.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,124 $1,124

$1,204 JMD 189.4K

-6.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,590 $2,590

$2,863 JMD 450.1K

-9.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,373 $2,373

$2,192 JMD 344.7K

8.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,009 $3,009

$732 JMD 115.1K

310.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

9.15

-28.42%

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

Last update for Dalton, GA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $971 in Dalton, GA and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dalton, GA pays 311% 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: $47.00 in Dalton, GA vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $353 per month, with Dalton, GA 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

Dalton, GA vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dalton, GA and Kingston differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,824 vs $1,451 including rent). Kingston is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Dalton, GA pays 311% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $971 in Dalton, GA versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $978 in Dalton, GA versus $222 in Kingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kingston – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $47.00 in Dalton, GA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,451 in Kingston versus $1,824 in Dalton, GA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kingston but tight or insufficient in Dalton, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Kingston 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 Kingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Dalton, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.