Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncans and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncans and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $900 per month in Duncans vs $646 in May Pen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,459 per month in Duncans vs $1,005 in May Pen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,018 per month in Duncans vs $1,364 in May Pen, rent included.

Duncans costs about 39% more than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Duncans and May Pen are more affordable than the global median – Duncans 33% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.42 JMD 1,168

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.4 JMD 9,821

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 JMD 1,383

Cappuccino

$4.30 JMD 678

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 JMD 205

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 JMD 403

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 486

Milk (1 liter)

$4.19 JMD 659

$2.13 JMD 335

96.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 JMD 566

$3.66 JMD 577

-1.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 256

$3.17 JMD 499

-48.90%

Eggs

$3.43 JMD 540

$3.29 JMD 517

4.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 JMD 1,772

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 JMD 996

$7.59 JMD 1,195

-16.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 JMD 1,190

$4.89 JMD 769

54.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.88 JMD 926

$1.55 JMD 244

279.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 486

$5.15 JMD 811

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 659

$6.24 JMD 983

-33.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$1.92 JMD 303

59.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 JMD 332

$1.84 JMD 289

14.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$1.92 JMD 302

5.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.18 JMD 501

-1.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 JMD 237

$2.79 JMD 440

-45.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 JMD 1,344

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,806

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 JMD 433

$2.22 JMD 350

23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 490

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 JMD 132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 169

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 507

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 JMD 1,013

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 193

$1.36 JMD 215

-9.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$161 JMD 25.3K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.75 JMD 3,425

$42.30 JMD 6,661

-48.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.3 JMD 8,082

$39.33 JMD 6,194

30.49%

Cinema Ticket

$13.28 JMD 2,092

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$222 JMD 35.0K

$316 JMD 49.7K

-29.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,499 JMD 393.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.79 JMD 4,062

$15.55 JMD 2,448

65.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.46 JMD 4,010

$22.02 JMD 3,467

15.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

$40.24 JMD 6,336

75.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

$53.4 JMD 8,416

44.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 JMD 27.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 JMD 34.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 JMD 89.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 May Pen: July 20, 2026

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Duncans is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,349 per month in Duncans and $970 in May Pen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Duncans, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Duncans and $316 in May Pen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $900 in Duncans and $646 in May Pen, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward May Pen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with May Pen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duncans makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.