Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and New York, NY
For one person, living is cheaper in Jamaica: $1,502 a month against $5,142 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $43,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Jamaica Living Index72Cost of Living Index in JamaicaLearn more -
New York, NY Living Index245Cost of Living Index in New York, NYLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Jamaica is 45.5% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 70.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Jamaica is 44.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 63.5% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.01 JMD 1,738
$26.46 $26.46
-58.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 JMD 11.8K
$119 $119
-37.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.95 JMD 1,255
$14.43 $14.43
-44.91%
Cappuccino
$4.39 JMD 693
$6.55 $6.55
-32.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 JMD 195
$3.84 $3.84
-67.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 JMD 112
$3.00 $3.00
-76.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 JMD 357
$8.27 $8.27
-72.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 JMD 594
$10.05 $10.05
-62.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.70 JMD 584
$1.31 $1.31
182.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 JMD 529
$4.90 $4.90
-31.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 JMD 250
$7.16 $7.16
-77.93%
Eggs
$3.80 JMD 600
$5.92 $5.92
-35.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.21 JMD 1,928
$19.06 $19.06
-35.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.23 JMD 1,299
$17.38 $17.38
-52.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.46 JMD 1,336
$18.94 $18.94
-55.33%
Apples (1kg)
$6.71 JMD 1,060
$6.96 $6.96
-3.59%
Banana (1kg)
$3.73 JMD 590
$2.08 $2.08
79.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.07 JMD 800
$6.10 $6.10
-16.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 JMD 420
$6.95 $6.95
-61.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 JMD 452
$3.98 $3.98
-28.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 JMD 406
$4.44 $4.44
-42.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 JMD 414
$2.81 $2.81
-6.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 JMD 216
$2.51 $2.51
-45.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.63 JMD 1,678
$19.27 $19.27
-44.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.83 JMD 1,867
$19.67 $19.67
-39.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 JMD 451
$3.08 $3.08
-7.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 JMD 502
$3.68 $3.68
-13.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 JMD 147
$3.02 $3.02
-69.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.19 JMD 7,452
$140 $140
-66.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 JMD 157
$3.07 $3.07
-67.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.11 JMD 492
$2.13 $2.13
46.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.04 JMD 1,112
$41.21 $41.21
-82.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 JMD 225
$1.11 $1.11
28.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.5K JMD 6.5M
$35.0K $35.0K
18.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K JMD 4.5M
$25.4K $25.4K
11.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 JMD 24.3K
$217 $217
-29.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19 JMD 4,294
$74.0 $74.0
-63.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.70 JMD 7,848
$72.5 $72.5
-31.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 JMD 8,560
$120 $120
-54.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.00 JMD 2,527
$66.9 $66.9
-76.08%
Cinema Ticket
$13.01 JMD 2,054
$22.32 $22.32
-41.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$334 JMD 52.8K
$3,425 $3,425
-90.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,045 JMD 796.6K
$61.2K $61.2K
-91.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.75 JMD 4,697
$76.3 $76.3
-61.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.81 JMD 4,707
$55.5 $55.5
-46.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 JMD 12.1K
$119 $119
-35.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8 JMD 14.3K
$131 $131
-30.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 JMD 128.1K
$4,506 $4,506
-81.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$431 JMD 68.0K
$3,155 $3,155
-86.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 JMD 278.0K
$8,817 $8,817
-80.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,168 JMD 184.5K
$5,532 $5,532
-78.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,422 JMD 698.2K
$19.4K $19.4K
-77.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,378 JMD 533.4K
$6,754 $6,754
-49.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamaica
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$768 JMD 121.2K
$5,290 $5,290
-85.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.61
6.82
40.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jamaica: October 3, 2026
Last update for New York, NY: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jamaica $431 29.3%
New York, NY $3.2K 63.2% 632% $2.7K
Groceries & Markets
Jamaica $370 25.1%
New York, NY $546 11% 47.8% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica $231 15.7%
New York, NY $364 7.3% 57.6% $133
Eating Out
Jamaica $191 13%
New York, NY $422 8.5% 121% $231
Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica $102 7%
New York, NY $172 3.4% 67.9% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica $80 5.5%
New York, NY $165 3.3% 106% $85
Getting Around
Jamaica $67 4.6%
New York, NY $165 3.3% 145% $98
Accommodation & Living
Jamaica $1.2K 32.6%
New York, NY $5.5K 56.6% 374% $4.4K
Groceries & Markets
Jamaica $856 23.9%
New York, NY $1.2K 12.8% 46% $394
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica $258 7.2%
New York, NY $438 4.5% 69.7% $180
Eating Out
Jamaica $762 21.3%
New York, NY $1.4K 14.8% 89.9% $685
Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica $227 6.3%
New York, NY $382 3.9% 67.9% $154
Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica $176 4.9%
New York, NY $397 4.1% 125% $221
Getting Around
Jamaica $137 3.8%
New York, NY $337 3.4% 146% $200
Good to know
🇯🇲 Jamaica
🇺🇸 New York, NY
Weather
Population
2,697,983
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Jamaica New York, NY 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- Jamaica
- New York, NY
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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