Cost of Living Comparison Between Jonesboro, AR and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Jonesboro, AR and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,952 in Jonesboro, AR versus $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,128 in Jonesboro, AR versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,304 in Jonesboro, AR versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Living in Jonesboro, AR is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jonesboro, AR 46% above, Kingston 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 $14.81

$7.46 JMD 1,177

98.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.82 $49.82

$61.7 JMD 9,732

-19.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 $8.66

$8.58 JMD 1,354

0.93%

Cappuccino

$4.15 $4.15

$4.39 JMD 693

-5.47%

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

$2.19 $2.19

$1.33 JMD 209

64.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.74 JMD 117

132.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.43 JMD 384

63.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.10 JMD 490

98.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$4.33 JMD 683

-78.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 $2.88

$3.49 JMD 551

-17.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.64 JMD 258

26.83%

Eggs

$3.26 $3.26

$3.61 JMD 569

-9.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$11.20 JMD 1,767

-59.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$6.45 JMD 1,018

-15.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 $7.67

$7.82 JMD 1,233

-1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.99 JMD 946

-24.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.98 JMD 470

-57.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$4.21 JMD 664

-48.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.90 JMD 457

24.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.02 JMD 319

-21.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.00 JMD 316

7.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.01 JMD 476

-34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.51 JMD 238

30.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 $6.88

$8.61 JMD 1,359

-20.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.88 $11.88

$11.47 JMD 1,810

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.78 JMD 438

-37.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.04 JMD 480

14.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.81 JMD 128

27.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,760

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.09 JMD 171

180.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$3.22 JMD 507

-54.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.60 $35.60

$6.34 JMD 1,000

461.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.24 JMD 196

-45.16%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

-31.76%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-23.53%

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

$215 $215

$161 JMD 25.4K

33.92%

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

$68.4 $68.4

$22.24 JMD 3,509

207.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.2 $72.2

$52.0 JMD 8,202

38.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 $37.24

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

-45.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 JMD 2,511

Cinema Ticket

$11.99 $11.99

$13.38 JMD 2,111

-10.39%

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

$770 $770

$222 JMD 35.1K

246.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$2,532 JMD 399.6K

809.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$25.81 JMD 4,073

99.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.23 $33.23

$25.49 JMD 4,022

30.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 $69.9

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

-1.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

35.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$880 JMD 138.8K

36.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$878 $878

$451 JMD 71.2K

94.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 $1,312

$2,007 JMD 316.6K

-34.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 $2,221

$1,188 JMD 187.5K

86.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,552 $1,552

$2,866 JMD 452.2K

-45.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,549 $1,549

$2,153 JMD 339.8K

-28.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,331 $3,331

$732 JMD 115.5K

354.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

9.15

-29.51%

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

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,203 in Jonesboro, AR and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonesboro, AR pays 355% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Jonesboro, AR vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $351 per month, with Jonesboro, AR cheaper across the board.

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

Jonesboro, AR vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 355% higher in Jonesboro, AR, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,203 in Jonesboro, AR versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $770 in Jonesboro, AR versus $222 in Kingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kingston – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $50.0 in Jonesboro, AR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,482 in Kingston versus $1,952 in Jonesboro, AR, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kingston but tight or insufficient in Jonesboro, AR. The gap between the two cities makes Kingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Jonesboro, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.