Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Duncans Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Duncans

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,461 per month in Kingston vs $894 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Kingston vs $1,423 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,432 per month in Kingston vs $1,952 in Duncans, rent included.

Kingston costs about 63% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Kingston sits 8% above the global median, while Duncans is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 JMD 1,167

$7.38 JMD 1,168

-0.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.9 JMD 9,795

$61.7 JMD 9,765

0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 JMD 1,407

$8.53 JMD 1,350

4.22%

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 695

$4.38 JMD 693

0.23%

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

$1.38 JMD 218

$1.36 JMD 215

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$0.74 JMD 118

-4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 387

$2.47 JMD 391

-1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 500

$3.11 JMD 492

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.33 JMD 686

$4.28 JMD 677

1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 579

$3.63 JMD 574

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 249

$1.54 JMD 244

1.95%

Eggs

$3.43 JMD 543

$3.46 JMD 548

-0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 JMD 1,717

$10.88 JMD 1,721

-0.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 JMD 1,033

$6.33 JMD 1,003

3.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.43 JMD 1,177

$7.76 JMD 1,228

-4.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 JMD 965

$6.04 JMD 956

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 488

$3.09 JMD 488

-0.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 653

$4.18 JMD 662

-1.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 JMD 462

$3.07 JMD 486

-4.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 319

$2.10 JMD 333

-4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 314

$2.02 JMD 320

-1.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 473

$3.11 JMD 492

-3.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 JMD 230

$1.44 JMD 229

1.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,367

$9.00 JMD 1,424

-4.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 JMD 1,790

$11.48 JMD 1,817

-1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 453

$2.90 JMD 459

-1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 JMD 508

$3.04 JMD 481

5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 137

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.18 JMD 7,626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 178

$1.07 JMD 170

4.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 514

$3.23 JMD 511

0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 JMD 1,018

$6.28 JMD 993

2.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 JMD 194

$1.23 JMD 195

-0.81%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

0.75%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

-2.71%

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

$160 JMD 25.4K

$163 JMD 25.8K

-1.43%

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

$21.77 JMD 3,445

$22.03 JMD 3,487

-1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,096

$50.7 JMD 8,016

0.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 JMD 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$12.94 JMD 2,049

$13.02 JMD 2,061

-0.61%

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

$230 JMD 36.5K

$229 JMD 36.3K

0.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,450 JMD 387.7K

$2,435 JMD 385.3K

0.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.54 JMD 4,200

$26.13 JMD 4,135

1.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.83 JMD 4,087

$25.25 JMD 3,996

2.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

1.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

$76.2 JMD 12.1K

0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 140.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 JMD 71.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 319.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 188.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,809 JMD 444.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,237 JMD 354.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$750 JMD 118.7K

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Duncans: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $886 in Kingston versus $0 in Duncans. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Kingston versus $62 in Duncans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $351 – making Kingston the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kingston is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,192 per month in Kingston and $1,341 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,461 in Kingston and $894 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $230 per month in Kingston and $229 in Duncans. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Duncans, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Kingston at $1,461. In Duncans it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duncans – 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 Duncans. 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.