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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,702 per month in Kingston vs $1,050 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,853 per month in Kingston vs $1,731 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,004 per month in Kingston vs $2,411 in Duncans, rent included.

Kingston costs about 62% more than Duncans, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Kingston sits 23% above the global median, while Duncans is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.79 JMD 2,481

$16.03 JMD 2,518

-1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$76.8 JMD 12.1K

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,345

$8.82 JMD 1,385

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$5.40 JMD 848

$5.21 JMD 819

3.65%

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

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.25 JMD 196

-0.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 109

$0.68 JMD 107

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 JMD 348

$2.17 JMD 341

1.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.09 JMD 486

2.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.25 JMD 667

$4.14 JMD 650

2.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.65 JMD 260

-1.82%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.47 JMD 544

-0.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 JMD 1,822

$11.35 JMD 1,782

2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 JMD 1,007

$6.16 JMD 967

4.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 JMD 1,596

$10.14 JMD 1,592

0.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 967

$6.19 JMD 972

-0.48%

Banana (1kg)

$4.00 JMD 629

$3.96 JMD 622

1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$7.42 JMD 1,165

-1.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 467

$3.10 JMD 488

-4.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$3.29 JMD 517

-1.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 JMD 424

$2.69 JMD 422

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

$3.05 JMD 479

3.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 233

$1.44 JMD 227

3.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 JMD 1,440

$9.50 JMD 1,492

-3.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,754

$11.16 JMD 1,753

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.85 JMD 447

-1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 621

$4.09 JMD 643

-3.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 JMD 193

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.07 JMD 483

0.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 979

$6.41 JMD 1,007

-2.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 218

$1.41 JMD 221

-1.42%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

$44.9K JMD 7.1M

-0.82%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$32.6K JMD 5.1M

0.93%

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

$178 JMD 28.0K

$177 JMD 27.8K

0.44%

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

$29.81 JMD 4,682

$29.71 JMD 4,666

0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 JMD 8,241

$52.2 JMD 8,196

0.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 JMD 2,065

$13.21 JMD 2,075

-0.45%

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

$357 JMD 56.1K

$363 JMD 57.0K

-1.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$8,328 JMD 1.3M

-2.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.41 JMD 3,678

$23.73 JMD 3,727

-1.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.32 JMD 4,919

$31.30 JMD 4,916

0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

-1.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$104 JMD 16.3K

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 JMD 116.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Last update for Duncans: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Kingston versus $77.0 in Duncans. Groceries tell a different story – $386 in Kingston vs $383 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 62%, 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 $2,554 per month in Kingston and $1,576 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,702 in Kingston and $1,050 in Duncans. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $357 per month in Kingston and $363 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 $1,050, than in Kingston at $1,702. 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.