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 $1,050 per month in Duncans vs $730 in May Pen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,731 per month in Duncans vs $817 in May Pen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,411 per month in Duncans vs $903 in May Pen, rent included.

Duncans costs about 44% more than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Duncans and May Pen are more affordable than the global median – Duncans 24% lower, May Pen 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.03 JMD 2,518

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.8 JMD 12.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 JMD 1,385

Cappuccino

$5.21 JMD 819

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

$1.25 JMD 196

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 JMD 341

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 486

Milk (1 liter)

$4.14 JMD 650

$2.17 JMD 342

90.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

$3.88 JMD 609

-5.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 JMD 260

$3.13 JMD 492

-47.28%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 544

$3.51 JMD 551

-1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 JMD 1,782

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 967

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-20.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 JMD 1,592

$4.90 JMD 770

106.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 JMD 972

$1.62 JMD 254

282.10%

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 JMD 622

$4.93 JMD 774

-19.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.42 JMD 1,165

$6.42 JMD 1,009

15.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 488

$1.87 JMD 293

65.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 JMD 517

$1.95 JMD 307

68.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 JMD 422

$1.92 JMD 301

40.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.05 JMD 479

$3.20 JMD 502

-4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$2.91 JMD 457

-50.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.50 JMD 1,492

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,753

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 447

$2.18 JMD 342

30.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 JMD 643

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 JMD 193

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 JMD 483

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.41 JMD 1,007

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 JMD 221

$1.42 JMD 223

-0.70%

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

$44.9K JMD 7.1M

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

$32.6K JMD 5.1M

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

$177 JMD 27.8K

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

$29.71 JMD 4,666

$42.36 JMD 6,654

-29.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 JMD 8,196

$54.7 JMD 8,594

-4.62%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,075

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

$363 JMD 57.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,328 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.73 JMD 3,727

$15.77 JMD 2,477

50.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.30 JMD 4,916

$22.45 JMD 3,527

39.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$41.39 JMD 6,502

87.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 JMD 16.3K

$53.7 JMD 8,432

93.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 JMD 45.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Duncans: September 6, 2026

Last update for May Pen: September 7, 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 44%, 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 $1,576 per month in Duncans and $1,096 in May Pen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,050 in Duncans and $730 in May Pen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Duncans, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,050 in Duncans and $730 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.