😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,482 in Kingston versus $1,482 in Chalcis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,489 in Kingston versus $2,207 in Chalcis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,496 in Kingston versus $2,933 in Chalcis.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Kingston and Chalcis; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston11% above, Chalcis11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46JMD 1,176
$13.56€11.85
-44.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7JMD 9,720
$48.40€42.29
27.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.58JMD 1,352
$9.18€8.02
-6.54%
Cappuccino
$4.39JMD 692
$4.31€3.77
1.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33JMD 209
$1.64€1.44
-18.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74JMD 117
$0.60€0.52
23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43JMD 383
$3.28€2.86
-25.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10JMD 489
$3.95€3.45
-21.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.33JMD 682
$1.48€1.29
192.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49JMD 551
$1.58€1.38
120.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64JMD 258
$2.02€1.76
-18.81%
Eggs
$3.61JMD 568
$4.05€3.54
-10.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.20JMD 1,765
$13.69€11.96
-18.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.45JMD 1,016
$10.02€8.76
-35.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.82JMD 1,232
$13.11€11.46
-40.35%
Apples(1kg)
$5.99JMD 945
$2.02€1.76
196.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98JMD 470
$1.86€1.63
60.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21JMD 663
$1.12€0.97
275.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.90JMD 457
$1.93€1.69
50.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02JMD 319
$1.08€0.94
87.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00JMD 315
$1.22€1.07
63.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.01JMD 475
$1.00€0.87
201.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51JMD 238
$0.49€0.42
208.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.61JMD 1,357
$4.89€4.27
76.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.47JMD 1,808
$6.42€5.61
78.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78JMD 438
$1.62€1.42
71.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04JMD 480
$2.46€2.15
23.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.81JMD 128
$1.35€1.18
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.18JMD 7,751
$46.91€40.98
4.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09JMD 171
$4.58€4.00
-76.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 507
$1.02€0.89
215.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.34JMD 999
$13.75€12.01
-53.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24JMD 196
$2.10€1.84
-40.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.4KJMD 6.8M
$34.6K€30.2K
25.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$29.0K€25.3K
17.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161JMD 25.3K
$289€252
-44.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24JMD 3,504
$23.80€20.80
-6.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0JMD 8,191
$30.88€26.98
68.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.9JMD 10.9K
$69.8€61.0
-1.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91JMD 2,508
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.38JMD 2,109
$9.71€8.48
37.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222JMD 35.0K
$290€253
-23.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,532JMD 399.1K
$5,578€4,873
-54.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.81JMD 4,068
$110€95.9
-76.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.49JMD 4,017
$39.11€34.17
-34.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8JMD 11.2K
$100€87.7
-29.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9JMD 11.8K
$94.3€82.4
-20.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880JMD 138.6K
$512€448
71.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451JMD 71.2K
$376€328
20.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007JMD 316.2K
$780€681
157.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,188JMD 187.2K
$605€529
96.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,866JMD 451.6K
$2,466€2,155
16.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,153JMD 339.4K
$2,029€1,773
6.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston
Chalcis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$732JMD 115.4K
$1,070€934
-31.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
4.34
110.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chalcis: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Kingston and $512 in Chalcis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chalcis pays 46% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $48.00 in Chalcis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $262 per month, with Chalcis 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
Kingston vs Chalcis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Kingston or Chalcis?
On paper, salaries run 46% lower in Chalcis. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Kingston and Chalcis?
Rent for a central apartment: $880 in Kingston versus $512 in Chalcis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chalcis runs roughly 5% less than in Kingston. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Kingston and in Chalcis?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kingston or in Chalcis?
At $1,482 in Chalcis versus $1,482 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chalcis but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Chalcis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Kingston or in Chalcis?
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.
Which city is safer, Kingston or Chalcis?
Safety-wise, Kingston and Chalcis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Chalcis wins on affordability, Kingston on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.