Cost of Living Comparison Between Green Island and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Green Island and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $875 in Green Island versus $1,461 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,445 in Green Island versus $2,447 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,014 in Green Island versus $3,432 in Kingston.

Living in Green Island costs roughly 40% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Green Island is 35% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 JMD 1,211

$7.37 JMD 1,167

3.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.1 JMD 9,978

$61.9 JMD 9,795

1.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 JMD 1,409

$8.89 JMD 1,407

0.11%

Cappuccino

$4.45 JMD 704

$4.39 JMD 695

1.37%

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

$1.37 JMD 217

$1.38 JMD 218

-0.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.71 JMD 112

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 JMD 394

$2.44 JMD 387

2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 499

$3.16 JMD 500

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.43 JMD 701

$4.33 JMD 686

2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 JMD 577

$3.66 JMD 579

-0.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 256

$1.57 JMD 249

3.18%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 544

$3.43 JMD 543

0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 JMD 1,764

$10.85 JMD 1,717

2.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,021

$6.53 JMD 1,033

-1.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 JMD 1,191

$7.43 JMD 1,177

1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 JMD 959

$6.10 JMD 965

-0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 482

$3.08 JMD 488

-0.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 JMD 678

$4.12 JMD 653

3.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 JMD 466

$2.92 JMD 462

1.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 321

$2.01 JMD 319

1.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 308

$1.98 JMD 314

-1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 485

$2.99 JMD 473

2.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 228

$1.46 JMD 230

-1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.55 JMD 1,354

$8.64 JMD 1,367

-1.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 JMD 1,833

$11.31 JMD 1,790

2.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 438

$2.86 JMD 453

-3.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 481

$3.21 JMD 508

-5.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 137

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.18 JMD 7,626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

$1.12 JMD 178

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 515

$3.25 JMD 514

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 JMD 966

$6.43 JMD 1,018

-5.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 JMD 197

$1.22 JMD 194

2.46%

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

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

-1.70%

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

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

2.87%

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

$164 JMD 26.0K

$160 JMD 25.4K

2.21%

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

$22.48 JMD 3,558

$21.77 JMD 3,445

3.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.2 JMD 7,947

$51.2 JMD 8,096

-1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 JMD 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 JMD 2,078

$12.94 JMD 2,049

1.47%

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

$228 JMD 36.2K

$230 JMD 36.5K

-0.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,498 JMD 395.4K

$2,450 JMD 387.7K

1.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.89 JMD 4,097

$26.54 JMD 4,200

-2.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.22 JMD 3,992

$25.83 JMD 4,087

-2.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 JMD 11.4K

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

-0.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 JMD 11.8K

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

-2.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 140.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 JMD 71.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 319.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 188.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,809 JMD 444.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,237 JMD 354.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$750 JMD 118.7K

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 Green Island: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Green Island and $886 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63 in Green Island vs $62 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $350 per month, with Kingston 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

Green Island vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Green Island and Kingston differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $1,461 including rent). Green Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,313 in Green Island and $2,192 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 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $875 per month in Green Island versus $1,461 in Kingston – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $875 in Green Island versus $1,461 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Green Island but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Green Island 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 Green Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.