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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $900 per month in Duncans vs $1,468 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,459 per month in Duncans vs $2,461 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,018 per month in Duncans vs $3,454 in Kingston, rent included.

Duncans is about 39% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Duncans sits 33% below the global median, while Kingston is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42 JMD 1,168
$7.60 JMD 1,197
-2.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 JMD 9,821
$61.6 JMD 9,701
1.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 JMD 1,383
$8.56 JMD 1,347
2.57%
Cappuccino
$4.30 JMD 678
$4.31 JMD 678
-0.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 JMD 205
$1.32 JMD 208
-1.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 JMD 111
$0.75 JMD 118
-6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 JMD 403
$2.43 JMD 383
5.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 JMD 486
$3.08 JMD 484
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.19 JMD 659
$4.38 JMD 690
-4.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 JMD 566
$3.64 JMD 574
-1.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 JMD 256
$1.56 JMD 245
3.85%
Eggs
$3.43 JMD 540
$3.46 JMD 545
-0.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.25 JMD 1,772
$11.02 JMD 1,736
2.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.32 JMD 996
$6.46 JMD 1,017
-2.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.56 JMD 1,190
$7.55 JMD 1,189
0.13%
Apples (1kg)
$5.88 JMD 926
$5.86 JMD 923
0.34%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 JMD 486
$3.10 JMD 488
-0.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 JMD 659
$4.14 JMD 652
0.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.06 JMD 481
$3.04 JMD 479
0.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 JMD 332
$2.10 JMD 330
0.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 JMD 319
$1.93 JMD 304
5.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.13 JMD 492
$3.06 JMD 482
2.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 JMD 237
$1.48 JMD 233
2.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 JMD 1,344
$8.93 JMD 1,407
-4.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.47 JMD 1,806
$11.39 JMD 1,793
0.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 JMD 433
$2.81 JMD 442
-2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 JMD 490
$3.18 JMD 501
-2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.81 JMD 127
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$48.50 JMD 7,638
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 JMD 169
$1.11 JMD 175
-3.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 JMD 507
$3.25 JMD 513
-0.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 JMD 1,013
$6.22 JMD 979
3.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 JMD 193
$1.23 JMD 194
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3K JMD 6.8M
$42.1K JMD 6.6M
2.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K JMD 5.2M
$33.0K 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)
$161 JMD 25.3K
$165 JMD 25.9K
-2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.75 JMD 3,425
$22.23 JMD 3,501
-2.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3 JMD 8,082
$51.2 JMD 8,057
0.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$69.7 JMD 11.0K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.55 JMD 2,449
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.28 JMD 2,092
$13.17 JMD 2,074
0.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 JMD 35.0K
$229 JMD 36.1K
-3.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,499 JMD 393.6K
$2,465 JMD 388.2K
1.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.79 JMD 4,062
$25.76 JMD 4,057
0.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.46 JMD 4,010
$25.21 JMD 3,970
0.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.5 JMD 11.1K
$69.6 JMD 11.0K
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4 JMD 12.2K
$75.4 JMD 11.9K
2.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$878 JMD 138.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$451 JMD 71.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,020 JMD 318.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,214 JMD 191.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,815 JMD 443.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,200 JMD 346.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$754 JMD 118.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
9.15
-

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

Last update for Duncans: July 19, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Duncans versus $62.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $351 – making Duncans the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 63%, 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 $1,349 per month in Duncans and $2,202 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 $900 in Duncans and $1,468 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 $222 per month in Duncans and $229 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 $900, than in Kingston at $1,468. 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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