๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Kaลกtela versus $1,451 in Kingston.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,164 in Kaลกtela versus $2,475 in Kingston.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,932 in Kaลกtela versus $3,498 in Kingston.
๐Living in Kaลกtela costs roughly 4% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kaลกtela4% above, Kingston8% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.28โฌ14.00
$7.61JMDย 1,192
113.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7โฌ69.4
$62.0JMDย 9,707
30.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51โฌ8.18
$8.80JMDย 1,379
8.07%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.42
$4.36JMDย 682
-35.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56โฌ3.06
$1.32JMDย 207
169.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64โฌ2.27
$0.74JMDย 117
256.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60โฌ3.96
$2.57JMDย 403
78.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74โฌ3.22
$3.20JMDย 501
16.88%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38โฌ1.19
$4.36JMDย 684
-68.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55โฌ1.33
$3.66JMDย 573
-57.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03โฌ2.61
$1.57JMDย 246
92.99%
Eggs
$3.81โฌ3.27
$3.47JMDย 543
9.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.59โฌ8.25
$11.19JMDย 1,754
-14.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.76โฌ8.40
$6.42JMDย 1,007
52.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55โฌ10.80
$7.82JMDย 1,225
60.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69โฌ1.46
$5.96JMDย 933
-71.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65โฌ1.42
$3.13JMDย 491
-47.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.82
$4.30JMDย 673
-50.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$2.96JMDย 464
-20.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51โฌ1.30
$2.03JMDย 317
-25.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45โฌ1.25
$2.01JMDย 315
-27.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42โฌ1.22
$3.12JMDย 489
-54.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26โฌ1.08
$1.45JMDย 227
-13.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.74โฌ4.94
$8.89JMDย 1,393
-35.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.34โฌ6.31
$11.29JMDย 1,769
-34.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37โฌ1.18
$2.90JMDย 454
-52.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18โฌ1.01
$3.20JMDย 502
-63.13%
๐ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33โฌ2.00
$0.89JMDย 140
161.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.76โฌ32.48
$48.53JMDย 7,604
-22.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44โฌ2.96
$1.12JMDย 176
207.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04โฌ1.76
$3.15JMDย 494
-35.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.29โฌ7.99
$6.19JMDย 971
50.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70โฌ1.47
$1.28JMDย 201
32.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5Kโฌ33.1K
$43.2KJMDย 6.8M
-10.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6Kโฌ22.9K
$33.8KJMDย 5.3M
-21.19%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184โฌ158
$163JMDย 25.5K
12.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.06โฌ20.69
$22.49JMDย 3,523
6.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.56โฌ21.99
$50.7JMDย 7,942
-49.58%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.6โฌ50.4
$69.4JMDย 10.9K
-15.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.59โฌ12.55
$15.50JMDย 2,428
-5.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29โฌ7.99
$12.92JMDย 2,024
-28.10%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187โฌ161
$222JMDย 34.8K
-15.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,402โฌ1,206
$2,451JMDย 384.0K
-42.78%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.5โฌ71.8
$25.73JMDย 4,032
224.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.96โฌ24.05
$25.24JMDย 3,955
10.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107โฌ92.2
$72.4JMDย 11.3K
48.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104โฌ89.4
$75.6JMDย 11.8K
37.45%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481โฌ414
$880JMDย 137.9K
-45.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346โฌ298
$451JMDย 70.7K
-23.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619โฌ532
$2,021JMDย 316.7K
-69.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$554โฌ476
$1,204JMDย 188.7K
-54.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,420โฌ2,942
$2,863JMDย 448.5K
19.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,463โฌ2,118
$2,192JMDย 343.5K
12.32%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$926โฌ797
$732JMDย 114.7K
26.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
9.15
-52.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaลกtela: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $481 in Kaลกtela and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐKaลกtela pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $81.0 in Kaลกtela vs $62.0 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $263 vs $353, with Kaลกtela cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kaลกtela vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaลกtela and Kingston?
Kaลกtela and Kingston differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,395 vs $1,451 including rent). Kaลกtela is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kaลกtela or Kingston?
Kaลกtela pays 26% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kaลกtela and Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $481 in Kaลกtela versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaลกtela and Kingston?
A monthly transit pass in Kaลกtela runs roughly 29% less than in Kingston. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaลกtela and Kingston?
Childcare runs $187 in Kaลกtela versus $222 in Kingston. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,395 in Kaลกtela versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaลกtela but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Kaลกtela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaลกtela and Kingston?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kaลกtela or Kingston safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaลกtela and Kingston are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kaลกtela or Kingston?
Expats usually find Kaลกtela gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 4% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.