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: $1,039 in Golden Grove versus $1,702 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,727 in Golden Grove versus $2,853 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,416 in Golden Grove versus $4,004 in Kingston.

Living in Golden Grove costs roughly 39% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Golden Grove is 25% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.64 JMD 2,457

$15.79 JMD 2,481

-0.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 JMD 1,377

$8.56 JMD 1,345

2.45%

Cappuccino

$5.22 JMD 820

$5.40 JMD 848

-3.33%

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

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.24 JMD 195

-0.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$0.70 JMD 109

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 JMD 346

$2.21 JMD 348

-0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.18 JMD 500

0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 662

$4.25 JMD 667

-0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 JMD 585

$3.68 JMD 578

1.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 251

$1.62 JMD 255

-1.23%

Eggs

$3.63 JMD 570

$3.44 JMD 540

5.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.27 JMD 1,770

$11.60 JMD 1,822

-2.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 JMD 1,017

$6.41 JMD 1,007

0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.26 JMD 1,612

$10.16 JMD 1,596

0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 JMD 951

$6.16 JMD 967

-1.79%

Banana (1kg)

$3.83 JMD 602

$4.00 JMD 629

-4.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.32 JMD 1,150

$7.30 JMD 1,147

0.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 JMD 490

$2.97 JMD 467

5.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 JMD 520

$3.25 JMD 511

1.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 JMD 426

$2.70 JMD 424

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 480

$3.15 JMD 495

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 JMD 230

$1.49 JMD 233

-1.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.34 JMD 1,466

$9.17 JMD 1,440

1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,801

$11.16 JMD 1,754

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 JMD 458

$2.81 JMD 442

3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 620

$3.95 JMD 621

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 JMD 191

$1.23 JMD 193

-1.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.10 JMD 486

0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.30 JMD 989

$6.23 JMD 979

1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 213

$1.39 JMD 218

-2.16%

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

$44.8K JMD 7.0M

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

0.46%

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

$32.6K JMD 5.1M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

-0.84%

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

$176 JMD 27.7K

$178 JMD 28.0K

-0.83%

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

$29.01 JMD 4,557

$29.81 JMD 4,682

-2.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 JMD 8,196

$52.5 JMD 8,241

-0.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 JMD 2,051

$13.15 JMD 2,065

-0.68%

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

$363 JMD 57.1K

$357 JMD 56.1K

1.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,080 JMD 1.3M

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

-0.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.70 JMD 3,722

$23.41 JMD 3,678

1.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.75 JMD 4,987

$31.32 JMD 4,919

1.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 JMD 12.3K

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

2.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 JMD 16.5K

$102 JMD 16.0K

3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 JMD 116.9K

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 Golden Grove: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $76.0 in Golden Grove vs $76.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $386 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 64% in total monthly costs ($1,039 vs $1,702 including rent). Golden Grove is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,559 in Golden Grove and $2,554 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.

Shoppers in Kingston pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,039 per month in Golden Grove versus $1,702 in Kingston – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,039 in Golden Grove versus $1,702 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 64% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.