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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $894 per month in Duncans vs $1,461 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in Duncans vs $2,447 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Duncans vs $3,432 in Kingston, rent included.

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

Duncans sits 34% 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
$7.38 JMD 1,168
$7.37 JMD 1,167
0.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 JMD 9,765
$61.9 JMD 9,795
-0.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.53 JMD 1,350
$8.89 JMD 1,407
-4.05%
Cappuccino
$4.38 JMD 693
$4.39 JMD 695
-0.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 JMD 215
$1.38 JMD 218
-1.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 JMD 118
$0.71 JMD 112
4.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 JMD 391
$2.44 JMD 387
1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 JMD 492
$3.16 JMD 500
-1.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.28 JMD 677
$4.33 JMD 686
-1.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.63 JMD 574
$3.66 JMD 579
-0.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 JMD 244
$1.57 JMD 249
-1.91%
Eggs
$3.46 JMD 548
$3.43 JMD 543
0.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.88 JMD 1,721
$10.85 JMD 1,717
0.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.33 JMD 1,003
$6.53 JMD 1,033
-3.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.76 JMD 1,228
$7.43 JMD 1,177
4.44%
Apples (1kg)
$6.04 JMD 956
$6.10 JMD 965
-0.98%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 JMD 488
$3.08 JMD 488
0.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 JMD 662
$4.12 JMD 653
1.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 JMD 486
$2.92 JMD 462
5.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 JMD 333
$2.01 JMD 319
4.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 JMD 320
$1.98 JMD 314
2.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.11 JMD 492
$2.99 JMD 473
4.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 JMD 229
$1.46 JMD 230
-1.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.00 JMD 1,424
$8.64 JMD 1,367
4.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.48 JMD 1,817
$11.31 JMD 1,790
1.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 JMD 459
$2.86 JMD 453
1.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 JMD 481
$3.21 JMD 508
-5.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.87 JMD 137
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$48.18 JMD 7,626
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 JMD 170
$1.12 JMD 178
-4.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.23 JMD 511
$3.25 JMD 514
-0.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 JMD 993
$6.43 JMD 1,018
-2.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 JMD 195
$1.22 JMD 194
0.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K JMD 6.8M
$43.4K JMD 6.9M
-0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K JMD 5.4M
$33.3K JMD 5.3M
2.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 JMD 25.8K
$160 JMD 25.4K
1.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.03 JMD 3,487
$21.77 JMD 3,445
1.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.7 JMD 8,016
$51.2 JMD 8,096
-0.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$69.7 JMD 11.0K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.70 JMD 2,485
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.02 JMD 2,061
$12.94 JMD 2,049
0.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 JMD 36.3K
$230 JMD 36.5K
-0.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,435 JMD 385.3K
$2,450 JMD 387.7K
-0.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.13 JMD 4,135
$26.54 JMD 4,200
-1.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.25 JMD 3,996
$25.83 JMD 4,087
-2.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.0 JMD 11.2K
$72.3 JMD 11.4K
-1.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.2 JMD 12.1K
$76.9 JMD 12.2K
-0.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$886 JMD 140.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$453 JMD 71.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,021 JMD 319.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,188 JMD 188.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,809 JMD 444.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,237 JMD 354.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$750 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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Kingston: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Duncans versus $886 in Kingston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Duncans versus $62 in Kingston. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Duncans vs $350 in Kingston – so Kingston 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 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 $1,341 per month in Duncans and $2,192 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 $894 in Duncans and $1,461 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 $229 per month in Duncans and $230 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 $894, than in Kingston at $1,461. 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.

Duncans vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities