Cost of Living Comparison Between Golden Grove and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Golden Grove and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $878 in Golden Grove versus $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Golden Grove versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,000 in Golden Grove versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Living in Golden Grove costs roughly 41% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Golden Grove is 34% below, Kingston is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 JMD 1,175

$7.46 JMD 1,176

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,703

$61.7 JMD 9,720

-0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.64 JMD 1,362

$8.58 JMD 1,352

0.70%

Cappuccino

$4.23 JMD 666

$4.39 JMD 692

-3.64%

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

$1.38 JMD 217

$1.33 JMD 209

3.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.74 JMD 117

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.43 JMD 383

5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 497

$3.10 JMD 489

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 665

$4.33 JMD 682

-2.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.51 JMD 553

$3.49 JMD 551

0.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.64 JMD 258

-1.22%

Eggs

$3.55 JMD 560

$3.61 JMD 568

-1.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 JMD 1,710

$11.20 JMD 1,765

-3.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 JMD 993

$6.45 JMD 1,016

-2.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,232

Apples (1kg)

$6.03 JMD 950

$5.99 JMD 945

0.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 JMD 490

$2.98 JMD 470

4.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.19 JMD 661

$4.21 JMD 663

-0.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 JMD 464

$2.90 JMD 457

1.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 JMD 327

$2.02 JMD 319

2.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 316

$2.00 JMD 315

0.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 JMD 478

$3.01 JMD 475

0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 JMD 61.9

$1.51 JMD 238

-74.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 JMD 1,409

$8.61 JMD 1,357

3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.20 JMD 1,766

$11.47 JMD 1,808

-2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 457

$2.78 JMD 438

4.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 507

$3.04 JMD 480

5.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 128

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.09 JMD 171

3.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

$3.22 JMD 507

0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 JMD 962

$6.34 JMD 999

-3.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$1.24 JMD 196

3.23%

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

$42.9K JMD 6.8M

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

-1.30%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-0.26%

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

$162 JMD 25.5K

$161 JMD 25.3K

0.59%

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

$21.94 JMD 3,457

$22.24 JMD 3,504

-1.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 JMD 7,969

$52.0 JMD 8,191

-2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 JMD 2,508

Cinema Ticket

$13.30 JMD 2,097

$13.38 JMD 2,109

-0.60%

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

$223 JMD 35.2K

$222 JMD 35.0K

0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,528 JMD 398.4K

$2,532 JMD 399.1K

-0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.81 JMD 4,067

$25.81 JMD 4,068

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.63 JMD 4,039

$25.49 JMD 4,017

0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 JMD 11.2K

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

3.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 138.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 JMD 316.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 187.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 JMD 451.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,153 JMD 339.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 115.4K

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 Golden Grove: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Golden Grove vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $351 per month, with Golden Grove cheaper across the board.

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

Golden Grove vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Golden Grove and Kingston differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($878 vs $1,482 including rent). Golden Grove is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,317 in Golden Grove and $2,223 in Kingston to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $878 per month in Golden Grove versus $1,482 in Kingston – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $878 in Golden Grove versus $1,482 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Golden Grove but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Golden Grove the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Golden Grove gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.