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 1,186

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,962

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

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

$1.31 JMD 206

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,745

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 449

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,844

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

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 3,422

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,162

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

$55.1 JMD 8,664

25.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,433

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

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 139.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 190.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

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: 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.