Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Green Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Green Island

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,461 in Kingston versus $875 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Kingston versus $1,445 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,432 in Kingston versus $2,014 in Green Island.

Living in Kingston is roughly 67% more expensive than Green Island, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Green Island is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 JMD 1,167

$7.65 JMD 1,211

-3.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.9 JMD 9,795

$63.1 JMD 9,978

-1.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 JMD 1,407

$8.90 JMD 1,409

-0.11%

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 695

$4.45 JMD 704

-1.35%

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

$1.38 JMD 218

$1.37 JMD 217

0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$0.75 JMD 118

-5.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 387

$2.49 JMD 394

-2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 500

$3.15 JMD 499

0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.33 JMD 686

$4.43 JMD 701

-2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 579

$3.64 JMD 577

0.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 249

$1.62 JMD 256

-3.09%

Eggs

$3.43 JMD 543

$3.44 JMD 544

-0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 JMD 1,717

$11.15 JMD 1,764

-2.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 JMD 1,033

$6.45 JMD 1,021

1.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.43 JMD 1,177

$7.52 JMD 1,191

-1.20%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 JMD 965

$6.06 JMD 959

0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 488

$3.05 JMD 482

0.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 653

$4.28 JMD 678

-3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 JMD 462

$2.95 JMD 466

-1.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 319

$2.03 JMD 321

-0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 314

$1.95 JMD 308

1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 473

$3.06 JMD 485

-2.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 JMD 230

$1.44 JMD 228

1.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,367

$8.55 JMD 1,354

1.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 JMD 1,790

$11.58 JMD 1,833

-2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 453

$2.77 JMD 438

3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 JMD 508

$3.04 JMD 481

5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 137

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.18 JMD 7,626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 178

$1.09 JMD 172

2.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 514

$3.25 JMD 515

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 JMD 1,018

$6.10 JMD 966

5.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 JMD 194

$1.25 JMD 197

-2.40%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

1.73%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

-2.79%

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

$160 JMD 25.4K

$164 JMD 26.0K

-2.16%

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

$21.77 JMD 3,445

$22.48 JMD 3,558

-3.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,096

$50.2 JMD 7,947

1.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 JMD 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$12.94 JMD 2,049

$13.13 JMD 2,078

-1.45%

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

$230 JMD 36.5K

$228 JMD 36.2K

0.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,450 JMD 387.7K

$2,498 JMD 395.4K

-1.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.54 JMD 4,200

$25.89 JMD 4,097

2.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.83 JMD 4,087

$25.22 JMD 3,992

2.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

$72.1 JMD 11.4K

0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

$74.7 JMD 11.8K

2.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 140.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 JMD 71.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 319.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 188.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,809 JMD 444.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,237 JMD 354.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$750 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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Green Island: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $886 in Kingston and $0 in Green Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62 in Kingston vs $63 in Green Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $352 per month, with Kingston 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 Green Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston and Green Island differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,461 vs $875 including rent). Green Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,192 in Kingston and $1,313 in Green Island 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.

Shoppers in Kingston pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,461 per month in Kingston versus $875 in Green Island – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $875 in Green Island versus $1,461 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Green Island but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Green Island 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 Green Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.