Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncans and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncans and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,050 per month in Duncans vs $1,702 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,731 per month in Duncans vs $2,853 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,411 per month in Duncans vs $4,004 in Kingston, rent included.

Duncans is about 38% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Duncans sits 24% below the global median, while Kingston is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.03 JMD 2,518
$15.79 JMD 2,481
1.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.8 JMD 12.1K
$75.8 JMD 11.9K
1.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.82 JMD 1,385
$8.56 JMD 1,345
3.04%
Cappuccino
$5.21 JMD 819
$5.40 JMD 848
-3.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 JMD 196
$1.24 JMD 195
0.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 JMD 107
$0.70 JMD 109
-2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 JMD 341
$2.21 JMD 348
-1.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 JMD 486
$3.18 JMD 500
-2.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.14 JMD 650
$4.25 JMD 667
-2.59%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 JMD 578
$3.68 JMD 578
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 JMD 260
$1.62 JMD 255
1.85%
Eggs
$3.47 JMD 544
$3.44 JMD 540
0.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.35 JMD 1,782
$11.60 JMD 1,822
-2.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.16 JMD 967
$6.41 JMD 1,007
-3.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.14 JMD 1,592
$10.16 JMD 1,596
-0.20%
Apples (1kg)
$6.19 JMD 972
$6.16 JMD 967
0.49%
Banana (1kg)
$3.96 JMD 622
$4.00 JMD 629
-1.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.42 JMD 1,165
$7.30 JMD 1,147
1.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.10 JMD 488
$2.97 JMD 467
4.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 JMD 517
$3.25 JMD 511
1.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 JMD 422
$2.70 JMD 424
-0.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 JMD 479
$3.15 JMD 495
-3.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 JMD 227
$1.49 JMD 233
-3.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.50 JMD 1,492
$9.17 JMD 1,440
3.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 JMD 1,753
$11.16 JMD 1,754
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 JMD 447
$2.81 JMD 442
1.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 JMD 643
$3.95 JMD 621
3.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.81 JMD 127
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$37.86 JMD 5,946
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 JMD 193
$1.23 JMD 193
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 JMD 483
$3.10 JMD 486
-0.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.41 JMD 1,007
$6.23 JMD 979
2.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 JMD 221
$1.39 JMD 218
1.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K JMD 7.1M
$44.5K JMD 7.0M
0.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K JMD 5.1M
$32.9K JMD 5.2M
-0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 JMD 27.8K
$178 JMD 28.0K
-0.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.71 JMD 4,666
$29.81 JMD 4,682
-0.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.2 JMD 8,196
$52.5 JMD 8,241
-0.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.1 JMD 9,598
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.79 JMD 2,794
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.21 JMD 2,075
$13.15 JMD 2,065
0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$363 JMD 57.0K
$357 JMD 56.1K
1.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,328 JMD 1.3M
$8,159 JMD 1.3M
2.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.73 JMD 3,727
$23.41 JMD 3,678
1.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.30 JMD 4,916
$31.32 JMD 4,919
-0.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 JMD 12.2K
$76.5 JMD 12.0K
1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 JMD 16.3K
$102 JMD 16.0K
2.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$955 JMD 150.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$563 JMD 88.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,148 JMD 337.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,430 JMD 224.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,887 JMD 453.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,090 JMD 328.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$744 JMD 116.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.45
9.45
-

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

Last update for Duncans: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Duncans versus $76.0 in Kingston. Groceries tell a different story – $383 in Duncans vs $386 in Kingston – so Duncans wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Duncans vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingston cheaper than Duncans?
Yes – Kingston is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,576 per month in Duncans and $2,554 in Kingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Duncans and in Kingston?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,050 in Duncans and $1,702 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Duncans and $357 in Kingston. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Duncans or in Kingston?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $1,050, than in Kingston at $1,702. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Duncans or Kingston more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Duncans – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Duncans. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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