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: $1,454 in Kingston versus $899 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $1,446 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $1,994 in Green Island.

Living in Kingston is roughly 62% more expensive than Green Island, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Green Island is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$7.68 JMD 1,208

-1.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,964

$62.8 JMD 9,878

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

$8.72 JMD 1,372

0.46%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

$4.42 JMD 695

0.45%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.31 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.76 JMD 119

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.49 JMD 391

3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.20 JMD 504

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

$4.36 JMD 686

-0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$3.67 JMD 577

-3.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.55 JMD 244

3.87%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

$3.57 JMD 562

-1.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,746

$11.26 JMD 1,771

-1.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

$6.44 JMD 1,013

0.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

$7.67 JMD 1,206

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

$5.89 JMD 927

4.41%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$3.09 JMD 486

-0.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$4.21 JMD 662

2.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

$2.89 JMD 455

3.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

$2.10 JMD 331

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$2.01 JMD 317

-4.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.13 JMD 493

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

$8.83 JMD 1,389

1.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,824

$11.34 JMD 1,784

2.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 450

$2.78 JMD 437

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.05 JMD 480

0.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,845

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.07 JMD 168

0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.25 JMD 512

-2.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

$6.17 JMD 970

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.29 JMD 203

-3.88%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

1.12%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

0.78%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

-0.13%

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

$21.76 JMD 3,423

$22.16 JMD 3,486

-1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,163

$49.98 JMD 7,862

3.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,434

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

$13.07 JMD 2,055

1.07%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$224 JMD 35.3K

1.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.3K

$2,478 JMD 389.7K

-0.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

$26.45 JMD 4,160

-0.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

$25.69 JMD 4,041

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$75.3 JMD 11.8K

3.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 139.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 190.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

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 7, 2026

Last update for Green Island: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Kingston vs $63.0 in Green Island. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $352, with Green Island 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 Green Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston and Green Island differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,454 vs $899 including rent). Green Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,180 in Kingston and $1,348 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,454 per month in Kingston versus $899 in Green Island – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $899 in Green Island versus $1,454 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 62% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.