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

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Jamaica vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,182 per month in Jamaica vs $3,856 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,646 per month in Jamaica vs $5,069 in United States, rent included.

Jamaica is roughly 73% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Jamaica sits 47% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.75 JMD 1,374

$20.12 $20.12

-56.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.1 JMD 9,904

$73.9 $73.9

-14.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 JMD 1,265

$11.56 $11.56

-30.28%

Cappuccino

$3.79 JMD 595

$5.09 $5.09

-25.54%

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

$1.22 JMD 192

$2.58 $2.58

-52.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$2.15 $2.15

-65.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 JMD 401

$6.10 $6.10

-58.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 485

$6.95 $6.95

-55.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.64 JMD 571

$1.08 $1.08

237.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.96 JMD 465

$3.74 $3.74

-20.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 241

$4.53 $4.53

-66.00%

Eggs

$3.36 JMD 528

$4.43 $4.43

-24.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 JMD 1,737

$12.99 $12.99

-14.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 JMD 1,211

$12.25 $12.25

-37.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 JMD 1,212

$16.17 $16.17

-52.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.12 JMD 961

$5.31 $5.31

15.25%

Banana (1kg)

$3.57 JMD 561

$1.64 $1.64

117.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 647

$4.44 $4.44

-7.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 JMD 342

$5.03 $5.03

-56.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 JMD 367

$2.98 $2.98

-21.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$3.03 $3.03

-30.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 JMD 352

$2.26 $2.26

-0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 JMD 196

$2.28 $2.28

-45.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 JMD 1,468

$10.12 $10.12

-7.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 JMD 1,961

$14.94 $14.94

-16.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 JMD 400

$1.97 $1.97

29.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 JMD 475

$3.66 $3.66

-17.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 JMD 153

$2.43 $2.43

-60.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.74 JMD 7,653

$64.7 $64.7

-24.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 JMD 143

$3.83 $3.83

-76.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 487

$1.78 $1.78

74.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 JMD 1,287

$30.45 $30.45

-73.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 209

$0.88 $0.88

51.14%

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

$42.0K JMD 6.6M

$30.3K $30.3K

38.64%

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

$32.2K JMD 5.1M

$25.9K $25.9K

24.63%

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

$139 JMD 21.8K

$205 $205

-32.43%

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

$22.71 JMD 3,565

$57.6 $57.6

-60.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.34 JMD 7,276

$71.9 $71.9

-35.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 JMD 9,000

$45.53 $45.53

25.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.39 JMD 1,632

$22.32 $22.32

-53.45%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 JMD 1,984

$13.82 $13.82

-8.61%

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

$221 JMD 34.8K

$1,374 $1,374

-83.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,588 JMD 563.4K

$23.0K $23.0K

-84.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.05 JMD 4,090

$51.3 $51.3

-49.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.62 JMD 3,709

$43.35 $43.35

-45.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 JMD 10.2K

$91.2 $91.2

-28.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.4 JMD 12.8K

$115 $115

-29.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$670 JMD 105.1K

$1,761 $1,761

-61.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 JMD 55.4K

$1,428 $1,428

-75.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,475 JMD 231.7K

$2,843 $2,843

-48.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 JMD 140.5K

$2,380 $2,380

-62.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,708 JMD 425.2K

$3,299 $3,299

-17.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,092 JMD 485.5K

$2,587 $2,587

19.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.4K

$4,234 $4,234

-82.19%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for United States: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $203 in Jamaica vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $886 in Kingston and $1,583 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $750 in Jamaica vs $4,496 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 705% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 70% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 499% higher in United States, giving United States 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jamaica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 350% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Jamaica, contributing to the overall 350% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Jamaica, but in United States 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.