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 $1,180 per month in Jamaica vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,643 per month in Jamaica vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Jamaica is roughly 73% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Jamaica sits 46% below the global median, while United States is 99% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.87 JMD 1,395

$19.67 $19.67

-54.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 JMD 9,912

$73.9 $73.9

-14.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.24 JMD 1,296

$11.35 $11.35

-27.40%

Cappuccino

$3.59 JMD 565

$5.15 $5.15

-30.29%

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

$1.26 JMD 199

$2.54 $2.54

-50.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 JMD 125

$2.14 $2.14

-62.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 383

$6.13 $6.13

-60.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 JMD 491

$6.84 $6.84

-54.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.67 JMD 578

$1.04 $1.04

252.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 JMD 454

$3.54 $3.54

-18.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$4.66 $4.66

-65.45%

Eggs

$3.43 JMD 540

$4.20 $4.20

-18.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.20 JMD 1,762

$12.73 $12.73

-12.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 JMD 1,257

$12.45 $12.45

-35.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.66 JMD 1,204

$16.15 $16.15

-52.57%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 969

$5.16 $5.16

19.38%

Banana (1kg)

$3.70 JMD 582

$1.72 $1.72

115.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 648

$4.61 $4.61

-10.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 JMD 345

$4.95 $4.95

-55.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 JMD 371

$3.01 $3.01

-21.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 JMD 325

$3.16 $3.16

-34.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 JMD 351

$2.25 $2.25

-0.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 JMD 196

$2.19 $2.19

-42.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.36 JMD 1,472

$10.07 $10.07

-7.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 JMD 1,905

$15.26 $15.26

-20.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 JMD 411

$2.01 $2.01

29.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.53 $3.53

-10.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 JMD 151

$2.45 $2.45

-60.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.44 JMD 7,776

$65.3 $65.3

-24.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 151

$3.73 $3.73

-74.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 493

$1.76 $1.76

78.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 JMD 1,269

$29.83 $29.83

-72.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 JMD 207

$0.96 $0.96

37.50%

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

$41.6K JMD 6.5M

$29.5K $29.5K

40.95%

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

$32.7K JMD 5.1M

$26.2K $26.2K

24.79%

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

$142 JMD 22.3K

$204 $204

-30.66%

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

$23.24 JMD 3,655

$56.7 $56.7

-58.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.82 JMD 7,207

$71.7 $71.7

-36.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.7 JMD 8,763

$45.88 $45.88

21.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.44 JMD 1,643

$21.70 $21.70

-51.89%

Cinema Ticket

$12.34 JMD 1,941

$13.96 $13.96

-11.60%

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

$227 JMD 35.8K

$1,400 $1,400

-83.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,677 JMD 578.3K

$23.0K $23.0K

-83.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.56 JMD 4,178

$53.3 $53.3

-50.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.21 JMD 3,809

$42.28 $42.28

-42.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 JMD 10.3K

$91.5 $91.5

-28.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 JMD 12.9K

$114 $114

-28.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 JMD 104.9K

$1,704 $1,704

-60.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 JMD 57.1K

$1,454 $1,454

-75.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,474 JMD 231.8K

$2,933 $2,933

-49.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 JMD 143.4K

$2,420 $2,420

-62.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,683 JMD 422.0K

$3,366 $3,366

-20.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,062 JMD 481.5K

$2,596 $2,596

17.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 JMD 115.4K

$4,392 $4,392

-83.30%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for United States: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $203 in Jamaica vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $909 in Kingston and $2,575 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $752 in Jamaica vs $4,499 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 498% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 345% 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 345% 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.