Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamaica and United States

🙂 Solo nomad: Jamaica is 28.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 54.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Jamaica is 24.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 44.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.96 JMD 1,426
$20.33 $20.33
-55.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.1 JMD 10K
$74.4 $74.4
-15.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.16 JMD 1,299
$11.49 $11.49
-28.98%
Cappuccino
$3.72 JMD 592
$5.09 $5.09
-26.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 JMD 202
$2.54 $2.54
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 JMD 127
$2.11 $2.11
-62.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 JMD 409
$6.09 $6.09
-57.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 JMD 506
$7.1 $7.1
-55.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.75 JMD 597
$1.08 $1.08
247.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 JMD 454
$3.7 $3.7
-22.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 JMD 243
$4.65 $4.65
-67.10%
Eggs
$3.35 JMD 533
$4.21 $4.21
-20.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.05 JMD 1,759
$12.75 $12.75
-13.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.61 JMD 1,212
$12.24 $12.24
-37.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.7 JMD 1,225
$16.08 $16.08
-52.11%
Apples (1kg)
$6.35 JMD 1,011
$5.41 $5.41
17.38%
Banana (1kg)
$3.54 JMD 564
$1.73 $1.73
104.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 JMD 660
$4.37 $4.37
-5.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 JMD 352
$4.94 $4.94
-55.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 JMD 389
$2.88 $2.88
-15.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 JMD 340
$3.07 $3.07
-30.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 JMD 368
$2.25 $2.25
2.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 JMD 190
$2.21 $2.21
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48 JMD 1,509
$10.09 $10.09
-6.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.4 JMD 1,814
$14.73 $14.73
-22.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 JMD 411
$1.91 $1.91
35.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 JMD 488
$3.54 $3.54
-13.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Jamaica
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 JMD 146
$2.56 $2.56
-64.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.67 JMD 7,748
$63.9 $63.9
-23.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.9 JMD 143
$3.81 $3.81
-76.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 JMD 513
$1.77 $1.77
81.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.26 JMD 1,315
$30.4 $30.4
-72.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 JMD 210
$0.94 $0.94
40.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K JMD 6.6M
$30K $30K
37.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K JMD 5.2M
$25.8K $25.8K
26.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 JMD 22.8K
$209 $209
-31.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.85 JMD 3,637
$57.9 $57.9
-60.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.99 JMD 7,321
$71.1 $71.1
-35.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 JMD 8,981
$45.88 $45.88
22.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.44 JMD 1,661
$22.25 $22.25
-53.08%
Cinema Ticket
$12.47 JMD 1,986
$14.14 $14.14
-11.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 JMD 36.2K
$1,373 $1,373
-83.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,598 JMD 572.8K
$22.4K $22.4K
-83.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.41 JMD 4,205
$51.5 $51.5
-48.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.94 JMD 3,811
$41.96 $41.96
-42.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66 JMD 10.5K
$88.3 $88.3
-25.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 JMD 12.7K
$112 $112
-28.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jamaica
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$663 JMD 105.5K
$1,731 $1,731
-61.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 JMD 56.8K
$1,446 $1,446
-75.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,471 JMD 234.2K
$2,846 $2,846
-48.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$930 JMD 148K
$2,366 $2,366
-60.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,716 JMD 432.4K
$3,245 $3,245
-16.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,140 JMD 340.6K
$2,667 $2,667
-19.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jamaica
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$691 JMD 110K
$4,312 $4,312
-83.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.34
6.51
28.11%

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

Last update for Jamaica: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.