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: $875 in Green Island versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,445 in Green Island versus $987 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,014 in Green Island versus $1,328 in May Pen.

Living in Green Island is roughly 36% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Green Island 35% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 JMD 1,211

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.1 JMD 9,978

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 JMD 1,409

Cappuccino

$4.45 JMD 704

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

$1.37 JMD 217

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 JMD 394

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 499

Milk (1 liter)

$4.43 JMD 701

$2.23 JMD 353

98.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 JMD 577

$3.84 JMD 608

-5.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 256

$3.10 JMD 491

-47.74%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 544

$3.28 JMD 519

4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 JMD 1,764

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,021

$7.58 JMD 1,199

-14.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 JMD 1,191

$4.98 JMD 788

51.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 JMD 959

$1.55 JMD 245

290.97%

Banana (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 482

$5.13 JMD 811

-40.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 JMD 678

$6.27 JMD 993

-31.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 JMD 466

$1.86 JMD 294

58.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 321

$1.84 JMD 291

10.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 308

$1.91 JMD 303

2.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 485

$3.20 JMD 507

-4.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 228

$2.77 JMD 438

-48.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.55 JMD 1,354

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 JMD 1,833

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 438

$2.16 JMD 342

28.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 515

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 JMD 966

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 JMD 197

$1.37 JMD 217

-8.76%

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

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

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

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

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

$164 JMD 26.0K

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

$22.48 JMD 3,558

$42.21 JMD 6,681

-46.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.2 JMD 7,947

$38.52 JMD 6,097

30.35%

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 JMD 2,078

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

$228 JMD 36.2K

$316 JMD 50.0K

-27.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,498 JMD 395.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.89 JMD 4,097

$15.94 JMD 2,523

62.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.22 JMD 3,992

$21.48 JMD 3,400

17.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 JMD 11.4K

$41.08 JMD 6,502

75.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 JMD 11.8K

$52.9 JMD 8,377

41.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$172 JMD 27.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 JMD 34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 JMD 89.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 JMD 68.2K

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 May Pen: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Green Island and $172 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63 in Green Island vs $0 in May Pen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $278 per month, with May Pen 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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Green Island and May Pen differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $646 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,313 in Green Island and $968 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.

Childcare runs $228 in Green Island versus $316 in May Pen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $875 per month in Green Island versus $646 in May Pen – a 36% 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 36% less than in Green Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.