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 $880 per month in Duncans vs $634 in May Pen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Duncans vs $993 in May Pen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,985 per month in Duncans vs $1,351 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 35% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 JMD 1,189

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 JMD 9,945

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 JMD 1,349

Cappuccino

$4.32 JMD 680

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

$1.30 JMD 205

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 498

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 JMD 683

$2.21 JMD 348

96.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 JMD 547

$3.71 JMD 584

-6.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

$3.15 JMD 496

-48.25%

Eggs

$3.59 JMD 564

$3.33 JMD 524

7.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,748

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 JMD 1,025

$7.41 JMD 1,166

-12.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 JMD 1,177

$5.04 JMD 792

48.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 JMD 959

$1.58 JMD 249

285.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 494

$4.99 JMD 785

-37.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 657

$6.20 JMD 975

-32.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 478

$1.85 JMD 292

64.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$1.91 JMD 301

6.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$1.92 JMD 302

1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 470

$3.10 JMD 488

-3.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 234

$2.89 JMD 455

-48.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.66 JMD 1,362

Wine (Bottle)

$11.33 JMD 1,783

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 JMD 451

$2.16 JMD 340

32.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 498

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 JMD 486

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 JMD 1,013

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 JMD 203

$1.36 JMD 214

-5.15%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

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

$22.31 JMD 3,509

$43.00 JMD 6,763

-48.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 JMD 7,942

$39.76 JMD 6,254

26.99%

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 JMD 2,032

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

$225 JMD 35.4K

$318 JMD 50.0K

-29.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,464 JMD 387.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.26 JMD 4,130

$15.93 JMD 2,505

64.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.90 JMD 4,074

$21.77 JMD 3,425

18.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

$41.01 JMD 6,450

73.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

$53.7 JMD 8,440

40.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 JMD 90.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 JMD 68.2K

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for May Pen: June 6, 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 $1,319 per month in Duncans and $952 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 $225 per month in Duncans and $318 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 $880 in Duncans and $634 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.