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: $1,784 in Dalton, GA versus $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,513 in Dalton, GA versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,242 in Dalton, GA versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Living in Dalton, GA is roughly 20% more expensive than in Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dalton, GA 34% above, Kingston 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$7.46 JMD 1,176

123.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.75 $46.75

$61.7 JMD 9,720

-24.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 $6.12

$8.58 JMD 1,352

-28.67%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$4.39 JMD 692

14.35%

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

$1.92 $1.92

$1.33 JMD 209

44.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.74 JMD 117

25.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.43 JMD 383

109.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.10 JMD 489

31.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$4.33 JMD 682

-79.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.49 JMD 551

-4.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.64 JMD 258

65.85%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$3.61 JMD 568

-9.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$11.20 JMD 1,765

8.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$6.45 JMD 1,016

85.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.82 JMD 1,232

3.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$5.99 JMD 945

-39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.98 JMD 470

-44.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.21 JMD 663

-14.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.90 JMD 457

-11.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.02 JMD 319

-7.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.00 JMD 315

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$3.01 JMD 475

-42.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.51 JMD 238

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 $4.17

$8.61 JMD 1,357

-51.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.33 $10.33

$11.47 JMD 1,808

-9.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.78 JMD 438

-53.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 $1.24

$3.04 JMD 480

-59.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.81 JMD 128

153.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.09 JMD 171

350.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.22 JMD 507

-52.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.25 $18.25

$6.34 JMD 999

187.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.24 JMD 196

-35.48%

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

$16.8K $16.8K

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

-61.36%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-22.25%

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

$179 $179

$161 JMD 25.3K

11.36%

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

$45.82 $45.82

$22.24 JMD 3,504

106.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$52.0 JMD 8,191

22.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.57 $43.57

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

-36.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 JMD 2,508

Cinema Ticket

$9.00 $9.00

$13.38 JMD 2,109

-32.74%

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

$1,006 $1,006

$222 JMD 35.0K

352.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,225 $8,225

$2,532 JMD 399.1K

224.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.79 $25.79

$25.81 JMD 4,068

-0.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.76 $26.76

$25.49 JMD 4,017

4.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 $79.6

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

12.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.6 $64.6

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

-13.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 $982

$880 JMD 138.6K

11.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 $791

$451 JMD 71.2K

75.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 $1,472

$2,007 JMD 316.2K

-26.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 $1,139

$1,188 JMD 187.2K

-4.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,550 $2,550

$2,866 JMD 451.6K

-11.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,408 $2,408

$2,153 JMD 339.4K

11.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,040 $3,040

$732 JMD 115.4K

315.18%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $982 in Dalton, GA and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dalton, GA pays 315% 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 $351 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 20% in total monthly costs ($1,784 vs $1,482 including rent). Kingston is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 315% higher in Dalton, GA, 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: $982 in Dalton, GA versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,006 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 $1,482 in Kingston versus $1,784 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 20% less than in Dalton, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.