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: $1,454 in Kingston versus $55.1 in Claremont.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $81.0 in Claremont.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $108 in Claremont.

Living in Kingston is roughly 2541% more expensive than Claremont, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Claremont is 96% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,188

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,983

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,380

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 700

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

$1.31 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 110

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 486

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 681

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 558

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 551

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,749

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,024

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,228

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 969

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 482

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 683

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 473

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 323

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 493

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,419

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,827

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 486

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,860

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 498

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 973

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

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

$21.76 JMD 3,429

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,179

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

$55.1 JMD 8,682

25.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,438

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,082

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

$228 JMD 36.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 387.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,164

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,036

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 139.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 314.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 445.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 341.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.8K

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 7, 2026

Last update for Claremont: June 9, 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 2541% 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 $2,180 in Kingston and $82.6 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 $55.1 in Claremont versus $1,454 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 2541% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.