Cost of Living Comparison Between Green Island and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Green Island and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Green Island versus $730 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Green Island versus $817 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,353 in Green Island versus $903 in May Pen.

Living in Green Island is roughly 41% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Green Island 25% lower, May Pen 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.56 JMD 2,444

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 JMD 11.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.92 JMD 1,401

Cappuccino

$5.43 JMD 852

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

$1.24 JMD 195

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 337

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

Milk (1 liter)

$4.06 JMD 638

$2.17 JMD 342

87.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 JMD 596

$3.88 JMD 609

-2.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 JMD 259

$3.13 JMD 492

-47.28%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 549

$3.51 JMD 551

-0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 JMD 1,764

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 JMD 996

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-18.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 JMD 1,594

$4.90 JMD 770

106.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.09 JMD 957

$1.62 JMD 254

275.93%

Banana (1kg)

$4.01 JMD 629

$4.93 JMD 774

-18.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.45 JMD 1,170

$6.42 JMD 1,009

16.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 471

$1.87 JMD 293

60.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 JMD 508

$1.95 JMD 307

66.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 JMD 414

$1.92 JMD 301

36.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 JMD 493

$3.20 JMD 502

-1.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 JMD 239

$2.91 JMD 457

-47.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.61 JMD 1,509

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,800

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 447

$2.18 JMD 342

30.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 JMD 633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 JMD 191

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 JMD 508

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 JMD 220

$1.42 JMD 223

-1.41%

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

$45.0K JMD 7.1M

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)

$173 JMD 27.2K

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

$29.14 JMD 4,578

$42.36 JMD 6,654

-31.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.0 JMD 8,474

$54.7 JMD 8,594

-1.39%

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 JMD 2,116

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

$358 JMD 56.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,105 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.80 JMD 3,739

$15.77 JMD 2,477

50.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.78 JMD 4,991

$22.45 JMD 3,527

41.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 JMD 12.1K

$41.39 JMD 6,502

86.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 JMD 16.4K

$53.7 JMD 8,432

94.56%

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 Green Island: 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

Green Island vs May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Green Island and May Pen differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,030 vs $730 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,545 in Green Island and $1,096 in May Pen 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 37% higher in Green Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,030 per month in Green Island versus $730 in May Pen – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though May Pen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Green Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.