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 $1,123 in Mexico, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,182 per month in Jamaica vs $1,789 in Mexico, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,646 per month in Jamaica vs $2,455 in Mexico, rent included.

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

Both Jamaica and Mexico are more affordable than the global median – Jamaica 47% lower, Mexico 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.75 JMD 1,374
$10.44 MX$182
-16.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1 JMD 9,904
$42.03 MX$734
50.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.06 JMD 1,265
$8.16 MX$143
-1.23%
Cappuccino
$3.79 JMD 595
$3.36 MX$58.6
12.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 JMD 192
$1.33 MX$23.24
-8.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 JMD 118
$0.91 MX$15.84
-17.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 JMD 401
$2.33 MX$40.71
9.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 JMD 485
$4.26 MX$74.5
-27.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.64 JMD 571
$1.53 MX$26.70
137.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.96 JMD 465
$2.58 MX$45.16
14.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 JMD 241
$1.75 MX$30.49
-12.00%
Eggs
$3.36 JMD 528
$2.39 MX$41.83
40.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.06 JMD 1,737
$8.37 MX$146
32.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.71 JMD 1,211
$7.87 MX$138
-2.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.72 JMD 1,212
$10.74 MX$188
-28.12%
Apples (1kg)
$6.12 JMD 961
$2.83 MX$49.39
116.25%
Banana (1kg)
$3.57 JMD 561
$1.46 MX$25.48
144.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.12 JMD 647
$1.92 MX$33.48
114.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 JMD 342
$1.87 MX$32.71
16.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 JMD 367
$1.99 MX$34.79
17.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 JMD 333
$2.08 MX$36.28
1.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 JMD 352
$1.32 MX$23.09
69.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 JMD 196
$1.01 MX$17.69
23.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.35 JMD 1,468
$4.28 MX$74.9
118.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.49 JMD 1,961
$11.48 MX$201
8.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 JMD 400
$1.60 MX$28.00
59.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 JMD 475
$2.94 MX$51.3
3.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 JMD 153
$0.65 MX$11.28
49.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.74 JMD 7,653
$26.49 MX$463
83.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 JMD 143
$2.57 MX$44.95
-64.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.10 JMD 487
$1.97 MX$34.33
57.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 JMD 1,287
$10.46 MX$183
-21.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 JMD 209
$1.30 MX$22.78
2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.0K JMD 6.6M
$20.4K MX$357.1K
105.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K JMD 5.1M
$23.0K MX$401.3K
40.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 JMD 21.8K
$62.3 MX$1,089
122.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 JMD 3,565
$23.43 MX$409
-3.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.34 JMD 7,276
$28.55 MX$499
62.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 JMD 9,000
$35.43 MX$619
61.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.39 JMD 1,632
$18.25 MX$319
-43.07%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63 JMD 1,984
$4.63 MX$80.9
172.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$221 JMD 34.8K
$252 MX$4,408
-12.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,588 JMD 563.4K
$5,610 MX$98.0K
-36.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.05 JMD 4,090
$51.6 MX$901
-49.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.62 JMD 3,709
$40.05 MX$700
-41.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.2 JMD 10.2K
$92.9 MX$1,623
-29.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4 JMD 12.8K
$89.3 MX$1,560
-8.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$670 JMD 105.1K
$652 MX$11.4K
2.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$353 JMD 55.4K
$455 MX$7,947
-22.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 JMD 231.7K
$1,223 MX$21.4K
20.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$895 JMD 140.5K
$872 MX$15.2K
2.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,708 JMD 425.2K
$2,613 MX$45.6K
3.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,092 JMD 485.5K
$1,574 MX$27.5K
96.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamaica
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 JMD 118.4K
$792 MX$13.8K
-4.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.34
11.45
-27.16%

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

Last update for Jamaica: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $203 in Jamaica vs $529 in Mexico. For reference, capital cities sit at $886 in Kingston and $995 in Mexico City.

Average salary: $750 in Jamaica vs $769 in Mexico. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 161% 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 – living costs run roughly 113% 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 113% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – 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 – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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