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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,454 per month in Kingston vs $880 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,432 per month in Kingston vs $1,432 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,409 per month in Kingston vs $1,985 in Duncans, rent included.

Kingston costs about 65% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Kingston sits 8% above the global median, while Duncans is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$7.56 JMD 1,189

-0.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,964

$63.2 JMD 9,945

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

$8.58 JMD 1,349

2.10%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

$4.32 JMD 680

2.78%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.30 JMD 205

0.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.75 JMD 118

-8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.43 JMD 382

5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.16 JMD 498

-2.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

$4.34 JMD 683

-0.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$3.48 JMD 547

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.63 JMD 257

-1.23%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

$3.59 JMD 564

-2.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,746

$11.12 JMD 1,748

-0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

$6.52 JMD 1,025

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

$7.49 JMD 1,177

4.01%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

$6.09 JMD 959

0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$3.14 JMD 494

-2.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$4.18 JMD 657

3.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

$3.04 JMD 478

-1.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

$2.04 JMD 321

0.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.94 JMD 305

-1.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$2.99 JMD 470

4.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$1.49 JMD 234

-2.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

$8.66 JMD 1,362

3.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,824

$11.33 JMD 1,783

2.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 450

$2.87 JMD 451

-0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.17 JMD 498

-2.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,845

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.07 JMD 168

0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.09 JMD 486

2.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

$6.44 JMD 1,013

-4.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.29 JMD 203

-3.88%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

1.57%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

1.57%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$163 JMD 25.6K

1.17%

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

$21.76 JMD 3,423

$22.31 JMD 3,509

-2.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,163

$50.5 JMD 7,942

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,434

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

$12.92 JMD 2,032

2.24%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$225 JMD 35.4K

1.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.3K

$2,464 JMD 387.5K

-0.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

$26.26 JMD 4,130

0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

$25.90 JMD 4,074

-1.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

-1.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

3.21%

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 190.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.9K

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 Duncans: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Kingston versus $63.0 in Duncans. Groceries tell a different story – $353 in Kingston vs $352 in Duncans – so Duncans wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 65%, 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 $2,180 per month in Kingston and $1,319 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,454 in Kingston and $880 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $228 per month in Kingston and $225 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 $880, than in Kingston at $1,454. 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.