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: $1,895 in Jonesboro, AR versus $1,451 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,182 in Jonesboro, AR versus $2,475 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,469 in Jonesboro, AR versus $3,498 in Kingston.

Living in Jonesboro, AR is roughly 31% more expensive than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jonesboro, AR 41% above, Kingston 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.02 $15.02

$7.61 JMD 1,194

97.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.23 $49.23

$62.0 JMD 9,724

-20.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 $8.31

$8.80 JMD 1,382

-5.57%

Cappuccino

$4.28 $4.28

$4.36 JMD 684

-1.83%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$1.32 JMD 207

73.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.74 JMD 117

143.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.57 JMD 404

51.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

$3.20 JMD 502

88.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$4.36 JMD 685

-77.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.66 JMD 574

-21.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.57 JMD 247

34.39%

Eggs

$3.30 $3.30

$3.47 JMD 544

-4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$11.19 JMD 1,757

-60.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.42 JMD 1,008

-15.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.82 JMD 1,227

0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.96 JMD 935

-25.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$3.13 JMD 492

-61.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$4.30 JMD 674

-49.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.96 JMD 465

20.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.03 JMD 318

-18.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.01 JMD 315

6.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.12 JMD 490

-37.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.45 JMD 227

33.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 $6.89

$8.89 JMD 1,396

-22.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 $11.77

$11.29 JMD 1,772

4.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.90 JMD 455

-42.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.20 JMD 503

11.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.89 JMD 140

14.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,617

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.12 JMD 177

174.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.15 JMD 495

-52.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.55 $35.55

$6.19 JMD 972

474.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.28 JMD 201

-43.75%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-31.19%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-21.02%

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

$219 $219

$163 JMD 25.6K

34.65%

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

$66.8 $66.8

$22.49 JMD 3,530

197.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 $73.6

$50.7 JMD 7,956

45.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.70 $36.70

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

-47.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,433

Cinema Ticket

$12.01 $12.01

$12.92 JMD 2,028

-7.04%

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

$779 $779

$222 JMD 34.9K

250.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$2,451 JMD 384.7K

863.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$25.73 JMD 4,039

104.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.48 $33.48

$25.24 JMD 3,962

32.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 $69.9

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

-3.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 $98.1

$75.6 JMD 11.9K

29.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 $1,212

$880 JMD 138.2K

37.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$891 $891

$451 JMD 70.8K

97.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 $1,312

$2,021 JMD 317.3K

-35.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$1,204 JMD 189.0K

82.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,557 $1,557

$2,863 JMD 449.3K

-45.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,540 $1,540

$2,192 JMD 344.1K

-29.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,402 $3,402

$732 JMD 114.9K

364.62%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,212 in Jonesboro, AR and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonesboro, AR pays 365% 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: $49.00 in Jonesboro, AR vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $353 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 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Jonesboro, AR pays 365% more on average, 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: $1,212 in Jonesboro, AR versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $779 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 $49.00 in Jonesboro, AR. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,451 in Kingston versus $1,895 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 31% less than in Jonesboro, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.