Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Golden Grove Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Golden Grove

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,482 in Kingston versus $878 in Golden Grove.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,489 in Kingston versus $1,439 in Golden Grove.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,496 in Kingston versus $2,000 in Golden Grove.

Living in Kingston is roughly 69% more expensive than in Golden Grove, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 11% above, Golden Grove is 34% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 JMD 1,177

$7.46 JMD 1,176

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.7 JMD 9,732

$61.6 JMD 9,716

0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 JMD 1,354

$8.64 JMD 1,363

-0.69%

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 693

$4.23 JMD 667

3.78%

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

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.38 JMD 217

-3.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.76 JMD 120

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 384

$2.57 JMD 405

-5.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 490

$3.15 JMD 497

-1.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.33 JMD 683

$4.22 JMD 666

2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 JMD 551

$3.51 JMD 553

-0.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 JMD 258

$1.62 JMD 255

1.23%

Eggs

$3.61 JMD 569

$3.55 JMD 560

1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.20 JMD 1,767

$10.85 JMD 1,712

3.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,018

$6.30 JMD 994

2.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,233

$7.82 JMD 1,234

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 JMD 946

$6.03 JMD 952

-0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 JMD 470

$3.11 JMD 491

-4.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 JMD 664

$4.19 JMD 662

0.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 JMD 457

$2.94 JMD 464

-1.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 319

$2.07 JMD 327

-2.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 316

$2.01 JMD 317

-0.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 JMD 476

$3.03 JMD 479

-0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 JMD 238

$0.39 JMD 62.0

287.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 JMD 1,359

$8.94 JMD 1,411

-3.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,810

$11.20 JMD 1,768

2.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$2.90 JMD 458

-4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 480

$3.22 JMD 508

-5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 128

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,760

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

$1.13 JMD 178

-3.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 507

$3.24 JMD 511

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.34 JMD 1,000

$6.11 JMD 964

3.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$1.28 JMD 202

-3.13%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

$42.9K JMD 6.8M

1.31%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

0.26%

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

$161 JMD 25.4K

$162 JMD 25.5K

-0.59%

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

$22.24 JMD 3,509

$21.94 JMD 3,461

1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 JMD 8,202

$50.6 JMD 7,980

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 JMD 2,511

Cinema Ticket

$13.38 JMD 2,111

$13.30 JMD 2,099

0.60%

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

$222 JMD 35.1K

$223 JMD 35.2K

-0.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,532 JMD 399.6K

$2,528 JMD 398.9K

0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.81 JMD 4,073

$25.81 JMD 4,072

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 JMD 4,022

$25.63 JMD 4,044

-0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

$71.4 JMD 11.3K

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

-3.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 138.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 JMD 316.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 187.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 JMD 452.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,153 JMD 339.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 115.5K

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 11, 2026

Last update for Golden Grove: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $62.0 in Golden Grove. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $336, with Golden Grove cheaper for home cooking.

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 Golden Grove: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston and Golden Grove differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($1,482 vs $878 including rent). Golden Grove is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,223 in Kingston and $1,317 in Golden Grove 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,482 per month in Kingston versus $878 in Golden Grove – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $878 in Golden Grove versus $1,482 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Golden Grove but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Golden Grove 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 Golden Grove gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.