Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and Mexico Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and Mexico

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Jamaica vs $1,120 in Mexico, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,179 per month in Jamaica vs $1,791 in Mexico, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,641 per month in Jamaica vs $2,461 in Mexico, rent included.

Jamaica is roughly 36% cheaper than Mexico on average โ€” the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Jamaica and Mexico are more affordable than the global median โ€“ Jamaica 47% lower, Mexico 17% lower.

Both countries show comparable internal variation: Jamaica spans $0โ€“$1,461, Mexico spans $702โ€“$2,385. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.85 JMDย 1,400
$10.62 MX$184
-16.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6 JMDย 10.1K
$42.45 MX$735
49.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.17 JMDย 1,293
$8.12 MX$141
0.62%
Cappuccino
$3.79 JMDย 600
$3.39 MX$58.7
11.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 JMDย 195
$1.32 MX$22.93
-6.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 JMDย 124
$0.97 MX$16.73
-18.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 JMDย 391
$2.34 MX$40.57
5.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 JMDย 500
$4.15 MX$71.9
-23.86%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.64 JMDย 576
$1.48 MX$25.58
145.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 JMDย 465
$2.53 MX$43.80
16.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 JMDย 242
$1.71 MX$29.66
-10.53%
Eggs
$3.48 JMDย 551
$2.34 MX$40.53
48.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.14 JMDย 1,763
$8.46 MX$147
31.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.71 JMDย 1,221
$7.88 MX$136
-2.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.69 JMDย 1,217
$10.92 MX$189
-29.58%
Apples (1kg)
$6.27 JMDย 993
$2.84 MX$49.23
120.77%
Banana (1kg)
$3.65 JMDย 578
$1.51 MX$26.17
141.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 JMDย 670
$1.87 MX$32.31
126.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 JMDย 350
$1.87 MX$32.35
18.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 JMDย 375
$1.96 MX$33.90
20.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 JMDย 321
$1.96 MX$33.99
3.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 JMDย 373
$1.32 MX$22.81
78.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 JMDย 188
$1.05 MX$18.26
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.33 JMDย 1,476
$4.27 MX$74.0
118.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 JMDย 1,938
$11.32 MX$196
8.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 JMDย 408
$1.64 MX$28.39
57.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 JMDย 487
$3.02 MX$52.3
1.99%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 JMDย 151
$0.65 MX$11.33
47.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.73 JMDย 7,870
$26.55 MX$460
87.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 JMDย 156
$2.63 MX$45.55
-62.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.13 JMDย 495
$1.94 MX$33.52
61.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.54 JMDย 1,352
$10.46 MX$181
-18.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 JMDย 211
$1.31 MX$22.74
1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.0K JMDย 6.6M
$20.2K MX$349.2K
108.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K JMDย 5.2M
$23.0K MX$397.9K
41.98%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 JMDย 22.1K
$63.2 MX$1,095
120.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.90 JMDย 3,625
$23.08 MX$400
-0.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.41 JMDย 7,503
$27.95 MX$484
69.62%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 JMDย 8,925
$34.90 MX$604
61.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.44 JMDย 1,652
$17.97 MX$311
-41.90%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63 JMDย 1,999
$4.85 MX$83.9
160.41%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 JMDย 35.5K
$251 MX$4,355
-10.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,662 JMDย 579.7K
$5,584 MX$96.7K
-34.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.90 JMDย 4,099
$52.6 MX$910
-50.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.00 JMDย 3,798
$40.26 MX$697
-40.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.5 JMDย 10.7K
$93.7 MX$1,623
-27.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0 JMDย 12.8K
$88.8 MX$1,537
-8.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 JMDย 106.5K
$651 MX$11.3K
3.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 JMDย 56.1K
$448 MX$7,761
-20.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 JMDย 227.7K
$1,244 MX$21.5K
15.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$919 JMDย 145.5K
$859 MX$14.9K
7.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,720 JMDย 430.5K
$2,822 MX$48.9K
-3.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,080 JMDย 487.5K
$1,604 MX$27.8K
92.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$757 JMDย 119.9K
$823 MX$14.2K
-7.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.34
11.45
-27.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jamaica: April 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $203 in Jamaica vs $531 in Mexico. For reference, capital cities sit at $886 in Kingston and $1,013 in Mexico City.

Average salary: $757 in Jamaica vs $778 in Mexico. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 162% higher in Mexico.

Dining out costs 10% more in Jamaica.

Public transport is 175% more expensive in Mexico.

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 Mexico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Jamaica or Mexico?
Jamaica is the cheaper option โ€“ living costs run roughly 111% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Jamaica or Mexico?
Housing costs more in Mexico, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Mexico consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Jamaica vs Mexico?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Jamaica, contributing to the overall 111% price gap. The savings show up everywhere โ€“ from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Jamaica and Mexico on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Jamaica, but in Mexico it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Jamaica or Mexico?
Jamaica is the budget-friendly choice for expats โ€“ lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Jamaica vs other spots: cost of living compared

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