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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,468 per month in Kingston vs $900 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,461 per month in Kingston vs $1,459 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,454 per month in Kingston vs $2,018 in Duncans, rent included.

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

Kingston sits 10% above the global median, while Duncans is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.60 JMD 1,197

$7.42 JMD 1,168

2.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,701

$62.4 JMD 9,821

-1.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$8.78 JMD 1,383

-2.51%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.30 JMD 678

0.23%

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

$1.32 JMD 208

$1.30 JMD 205

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.70 JMD 111

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.56 JMD 403

-5.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

$3.09 JMD 486

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.38 JMD 690

$4.19 JMD 659

4.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 JMD 574

$3.59 JMD 566

1.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$1.62 JMD 256

-3.70%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 545

$3.43 JMD 540

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 JMD 1,736

$11.25 JMD 1,772

-2.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$6.32 JMD 996

2.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,189

$7.56 JMD 1,190

-0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.86 JMD 923

$5.88 JMD 926

-0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.09 JMD 486

0.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 652

$4.18 JMD 659

-0.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 479

$3.06 JMD 481

-0.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 330

$2.11 JMD 332

-0.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.03 JMD 319

-4.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 482

$3.13 JMD 492

-2.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 233

$1.51 JMD 237

-1.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 JMD 1,407

$8.53 JMD 1,344

4.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.39 JMD 1,793

$11.47 JMD 1,806

-0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.75 JMD 433

2.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.11 JMD 490

2.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.50 JMD 7,638

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

$1.07 JMD 169

3.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 513

$3.22 JMD 507

0.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

$6.43 JMD 1,013

-3.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.23 JMD 193

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

-2.83%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

-0.91%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$161 JMD 25.3K

2.35%

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

$22.23 JMD 3,501

$21.75 JMD 3,425

2.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,057

$51.3 JMD 8,082

-0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 JMD 2,449

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 JMD 2,074

$13.28 JMD 2,092

-0.83%

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

$229 JMD 36.1K

$222 JMD 35.0K

3.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,465 JMD 388.2K

$2,499 JMD 393.6K

-1.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 JMD 4,057

$25.79 JMD 4,062

-0.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.21 JMD 3,970

$25.46 JMD 4,010

-0.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

-1.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

-2.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 JMD 138.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 JMD 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,815 JMD 443.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,200 JMD 346.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Duncans: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Kingston versus $62.0 in Duncans. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Kingston vs $350 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 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 $2,202 per month in Kingston and $1,349 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,468 in Kingston and $900 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $229 per month in Kingston and $222 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 $900, than in Kingston at $1,468. 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.