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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $880 per month in Duncans vs $1,454 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Duncans vs $2,432 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,985 per month in Duncans vs $3,409 in Kingston, rent included.

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

Duncans sits 35% below the global median, while Kingston is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.56 JMD 1,189
$7.54 JMD 1,186
0.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 JMD 9,945
$63.3 JMD 9,964
-0.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.58 JMD 1,349
$8.76 JMD 1,378
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$4.32 JMD 680
$4.44 JMD 699
-2.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 JMD 205
$1.31 JMD 206
-0.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 JMD 118
$0.69 JMD 109
8.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 JMD 382
$2.57 JMD 404
-5.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 JMD 498
$3.08 JMD 485
2.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.34 JMD 683
$4.32 JMD 680
0.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 JMD 547
$3.54 JMD 557
-1.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 JMD 257
$1.61 JMD 253
1.24%
Eggs
$3.59 JMD 564
$3.50 JMD 550
2.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 JMD 1,748
$11.10 JMD 1,746
0.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 JMD 1,025
$6.50 JMD 1,022
0.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 JMD 1,177
$7.79 JMD 1,225
-3.85%
Apples (1kg)
$6.09 JMD 959
$6.15 JMD 967
-0.98%
Banana (1kg)
$3.14 JMD 494
$3.06 JMD 481
2.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 JMD 657
$4.33 JMD 681
-3.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.04 JMD 478
$3.00 JMD 472
1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 JMD 321
$2.05 JMD 322
-0.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 JMD 305
$1.91 JMD 301
1.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 JMD 470
$3.13 JMD 492
-4.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 JMD 234
$1.45 JMD 228
2.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.66 JMD 1,362
$9.00 JMD 1,416
-3.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.33 JMD 1,783
$11.59 JMD 1,824
-2.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 JMD 451
$2.86 JMD 450
0.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 JMD 498
$3.08 JMD 485
2.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.89 JMD 140
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$49.88 JMD 7,845
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 JMD 168
$1.08 JMD 170
-0.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 JMD 486
$3.16 JMD 497
-2.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.44 JMD 1,013
$6.17 JMD 971
4.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 JMD 203
$1.24 JMD 195
4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.1K JMD 6.6M
$42.8K JMD 6.7M
-1.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K JMD 5.2M
$33.5K JMD 5.3M
-1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 JMD 25.6K
$165 JMD 25.9K
-1.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.31 JMD 3,509
$21.76 JMD 3,423
2.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.5 JMD 7,942
$51.9 JMD 8,163
-2.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$69.4 JMD 10.9K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.47 JMD 2,434
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.92 JMD 2,032
$13.21 JMD 2,078
-2.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 JMD 35.4K
$228 JMD 35.9K
-1.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,464 JMD 387.5K
$2,456 JMD 386.3K
0.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.26 JMD 4,130
$26.42 JMD 4,156
-0.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.90 JMD 4,074
$25.61 JMD 4,028
1.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.3 JMD 11.2K
$69.9 JMD 11.0K
2.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.2 JMD 11.8K
$77.6 JMD 12.2K
-3.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$886 JMD 139.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$446 JMD 70.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,996 JMD 313.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,214 JMD 190.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,824 JMD 444.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,167 JMD 340.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$754 JMD 118.6K
-
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Duncans versus $63.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $353 – 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 65%, 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 $1,319 per month in Duncans and $2,180 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 vs Kingston?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $880 in Duncans and $1,454 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 $225 per month in Duncans and $228 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 Duncans or Kingston?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $880, than in Kingston at $1,454. 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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