Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and Canada

Name: Canada
Address: CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Jamaica vs $2,320 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,182 per month in Jamaica vs $3,377 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,646 per month in Jamaica vs $4,433 in Canada, rent included.

Jamaica is roughly 69% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Jamaica sits 47% below the global median, while Canada is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.75 JMD 1,376

$18.77 CA$26.19

-53.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.1 JMD 9,921

$74.2 CA$103

-14.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 JMD 1,268

$11.25 CA$15.70

-28.36%

Cappuccino

$3.79 JMD 596

$3.86 CA$5.38

-1.81%

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

$1.22 JMD 192

$2.19 CA$3.06

-44.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$1.69 CA$2.36

-55.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 JMD 401

$5.96 CA$8.31

-57.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 486

$5.91 CA$8.24

-47.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.64 JMD 572

$2.29 CA$3.19

58.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.96 JMD 466

$2.76 CA$3.85

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 242

$3.60 CA$5.03

-57.22%

Eggs

$3.36 JMD 529

$3.50 CA$4.88

-4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 JMD 1,740

$11.47 CA$16.00

-3.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 JMD 1,213

$12.38 CA$17.28

-37.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 JMD 1,214

$14.97 CA$20.88

-48.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.12 JMD 963

$4.22 CA$5.89

45.02%

Banana (1kg)

$3.57 JMD 562

$1.51 CA$2.10

136.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 648

$3.90 CA$5.45

5.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 JMD 343

$4.11 CA$5.73

-46.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 JMD 368

$2.79 CA$3.89

-16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$2.62 CA$3.66

-19.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 JMD 352

$2.66 CA$3.71

-15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 JMD 196

$1.82 CA$2.53

-31.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 JMD 1,470

$14.71 CA$20.53

-36.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 JMD 1,964

$12.87 CA$17.96

-2.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 JMD 401

$3.02 CA$4.21

-15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 JMD 476

$3.39 CA$4.73

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 JMD 153

$2.59 CA$3.62

-62.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.74 JMD 7,666

$78.1 CA$109

-37.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 JMD 143

$3.56 CA$4.97

-74.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 488

$1.47 CA$2.05

110.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 JMD 1,289

$29.11 CA$40.61

-71.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 210

$1.17 CA$1.63

13.68%

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

$42.0K JMD 6.6M

$24.6K CA$34.4K

70.52%

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

$32.2K JMD 5.1M

$20.5K CA$28.6K

57.17%

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

$139 JMD 21.8K

$154 CA$215

-10.04%

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

$22.71 JMD 3,571

$46.20 CA$64.5

-50.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.34 JMD 7,289

$63.1 CA$88.0

-26.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 JMD 9,016

$42.87 CA$59.8

33.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.39 JMD 1,634

$17.61 CA$24.58

-41.00%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 JMD 1,987

$11.46 CA$15.99

10.21%

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

$221 JMD 34.8K

$813 CA$1,135

-72.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,588 JMD 564.3K

$12.2K CA$17.1K

-70.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.05 JMD 4,097

$56.3 CA$78.5

-53.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.62 JMD 3,715

$41.36 CA$57.7

-42.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 JMD 10.3K

$89.0 CA$124

-26.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.4 JMD 12.8K

$106 CA$148

-23.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$670 JMD 105.3K

$1,380 CA$1,925

-51.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 JMD 55.5K

$1,182 CA$1,649

-70.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,475 JMD 232.1K

$2,125 CA$2,965

-30.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 JMD 140.7K

$1,889 CA$2,635

-52.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,708 JMD 426.0K

$4,826 CA$6,734

-43.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,092 JMD 486.4K

$3,896 CA$5,436

-20.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

$2,947 CA$4,112

-74.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.34

6.33

31.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jamaica: June 7, 2026

Last update for Canada: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $203 in Jamaica vs $1,279 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $886 in Kingston and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $750 in Jamaica vs $2,945 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 530% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 58% more in Canada.

Public transport is 1525% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 293% higher in Canada, giving Canada stronger purchasing power.

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

Jamaica vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jamaica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 202% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Jamaica, contributing to the overall 202% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Jamaica, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Jamaica is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.