Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Bamboo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Bamboo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,192

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 JMD 9,707

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 JMD 1,379

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 682

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

$1.32 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 403

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 501

Milk (1 liter)

$4.36 JMD 684

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 573

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 543

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 JMD 1,754

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,007

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,225

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 933

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 491

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 JMD 673

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 464

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 317

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 315

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 JMD 489

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 227

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 JMD 1,393

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,769

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 454

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 494

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 971

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

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

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

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

$163 JMD 25.5K

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

$22.49 JMD 3,523

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 7,942

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,428

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 JMD 2,024

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

$222 JMD 34.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,032

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 JMD 3,955

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 137.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,863 JMD 448.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 JMD 343.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 114.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

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

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bamboo: May 31, 2026

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

Kingston vs Bamboo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward Bamboo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bamboo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.