Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Claremont Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Claremont

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,471 in Kingston versus $54.2 in Claremont.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,446 in Kingston versus $83.0 in Claremont.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,420 in Kingston versus $111 in Claremont.

Living in Kingston is roughly 2613% more expensive than Claremont, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Claremont is 96% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,150

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.8 JMD 9,889

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 JMD 1,416

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 686

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

$1.36 JMD 214

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 503

Milk (1 liter)

$4.41 JMD 695

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 JMD 565

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

Eggs

$3.55 JMD 559

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.14 JMD 1,754

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,016

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,188

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 968

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 JMD 477

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 652

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 466

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 331

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 JMD 484

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 JMD 1,371

Wine (Bottle)

$11.41 JMD 1,796

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 458

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 483

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 138

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.34 JMD 7,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 JMD 177

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 JMD 957

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

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

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

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

$22.50 JMD 3,543

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,051

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.8 JMD 11.0K

$54.2 JMD 8,542

28.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 JMD 2,438

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 JMD 2,068

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

$228 JMD 36.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,527 JMD 398.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.50 JMD 4,174

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 JMD 4,073

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 JMD 11.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 JMD 138.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 JMD 70.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 JMD 317.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 JMD 191.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,865 JMD 451.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 JMD 347.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 JMD 115.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Claremont: April 26, 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 Claremont: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Claremont wins on cost – living expenses run 2613% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Claremont the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,207 in Kingston and $81.3 in Claremont to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $54.2 in Claremont versus $1,471 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Claremont but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Claremont 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 Claremont gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2613% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.