🙂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
$7.42JMD 1,168
$7.60JMD 1,197
-2.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4JMD 9,821
$61.6JMD 9,701
1.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.78JMD 1,383
$8.56JMD 1,347
2.57%
Cappuccino
$4.30JMD 678
$4.31JMD 678
-0.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30JMD 205
$1.32JMD 208
-1.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70JMD 111
$0.75JMD 118
-6.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56JMD 403
$2.43JMD 383
5.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09JMD 486
$3.08JMD 484
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.19JMD 659
$4.38JMD 690
-4.34%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59JMD 566
$3.64JMD 574
-1.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62JMD 256
$1.56JMD 245
3.85%
Eggs
$3.43JMD 540
$3.46JMD 545
-0.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.25JMD 1,772
$11.02JMD 1,736
2.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32JMD 996
$6.46JMD 1,017
-2.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.56JMD 1,190
$7.55JMD 1,189
0.13%
Apples(1kg)
$5.88JMD 926
$5.86JMD 923
0.34%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09JMD 486
$3.10JMD 488
-0.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18JMD 659
$4.14JMD 652
0.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06JMD 481
$3.04JMD 479
0.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11JMD 332
$2.10JMD 330
0.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03JMD 319
$1.93JMD 304
5.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.13JMD 492
$3.06JMD 482
2.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51JMD 237
$1.48JMD 233
2.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53JMD 1,344
$8.93JMD 1,407
-4.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.47JMD 1,806
$11.39JMD 1,793
0.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75JMD 433
$2.81JMD 442
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11JMD 490
$3.18JMD 501
-2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.81JMD 127
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$48.50JMD 7,638
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07JMD 169
$1.11JMD 175
-3.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 507
$3.25JMD 513
-0.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.43JMD 1,013
$6.22JMD 979
3.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23JMD 193
$1.23JMD 194
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3KJMD 6.8M
$42.1KJMD 6.6M
2.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KJMD 5.2M
$33.0KJMD 5.2M
0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161JMD 25.3K
$165JMD 25.9K
-2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.75JMD 3,425
$22.23JMD 3,501
-2.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3JMD 8,082
$51.2JMD 8,057
0.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$69.7JMD 11.0K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.55JMD 2,449
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.28JMD 2,092
$13.17JMD 2,074
0.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222JMD 35.0K
$229JMD 36.1K
-3.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,499JMD 393.6K
$2,465JMD 388.2K
1.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.79JMD 4,062
$25.76JMD 4,057
0.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.46JMD 4,010
$25.21JMD 3,970
0.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.5JMD 11.1K
$69.6JMD 11.0K
1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4JMD 12.2K
$75.4JMD 11.9K
2.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$878JMD 138.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$451JMD 71.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020JMD 318.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,214JMD 191.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,815JMD 443.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,200JMD 346.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duncans
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$754JMD 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.