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: $1,451 in Kingston versus $864 in Golden Grove.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,475 in Kingston versus $1,399 in Golden Grove.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,498 in Kingston versus $1,935 in Golden Grove.

Living in Kingston is roughly 68% more expensive than Golden Grove, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Golden Grove is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,196

$7.60 JMD 1,195

0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 JMD 9,741

$61.4 JMD 9,656

0.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 JMD 1,384

$8.89 JMD 1,397

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 685

$4.31 JMD 678

1.16%

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

$1.32 JMD 207

$1.33 JMD 209

-0.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.75 JMD 118

-1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.54 JMD 399

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.16 JMD 497

1.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.36 JMD 686

$4.38 JMD 690

-0.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 575

$3.46 JMD 544

5.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$1.63 JMD 257

-3.68%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 545

$3.57 JMD 562

-2.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 JMD 1,760

$11.02 JMD 1,733

1.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,010

$6.18 JMD 972

3.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,229

$7.60 JMD 1,195

2.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 937

$6.03 JMD 948

-1.16%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.15 JMD 495

-0.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 JMD 676

$4.19 JMD 659

2.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 465

$3.05 JMD 480

-2.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$2.00 JMD 315

1.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 316

$1.94 JMD 304

3.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 JMD 490

$3.11 JMD 489

0.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$0.37 JMD 57.6

291.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 JMD 1,398

$8.84 JMD 1,390

0.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,775

$11.28 JMD 1,774

0.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 455

$2.76 JMD 435

5.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 504

$3.15 JMD 496

1.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 177

$1.09 JMD 171

2.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 496

$3.11 JMD 490

1.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 974

$6.34 JMD 997

-2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$1.27 JMD 200

0.79%

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

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

0.47%

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-0.58%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

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

$22.49 JMD 3,536

$21.93 JMD 3,449

2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 7,970

$50.4 JMD 7,918

0.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,437

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 JMD 2,031

$13.12 JMD 2,062

-1.52%

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

$222 JMD 34.9K

$225 JMD 35.4K

-1.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,451 JMD 385.4K

$2,515 JMD 395.5K

-2.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,046

$26.26 JMD 4,129

-2.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 JMD 3,969

$26.02 JMD 4,091

-3.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

1.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.6 JMD 11.9K

$75.7 JMD 11.9K

-0.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 138.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 317.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 189.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,863 JMD 450.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 JMD 344.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 115.1K

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 1, 2026

Last update for Golden Grove: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $61.0 in Golden Grove for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $336 per month, with Golden Grove cheaper across the board.

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 68% in total monthly costs ($1,451 vs $864 including rent). Golden Grove is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,177 in Kingston and $1,296 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 5% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,451 per month in Kingston versus $864 in Golden Grove – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $864 in Golden Grove versus $1,451 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 68% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.