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: $1,468 in Kingston versus $894 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,461 in Kingston versus $1,450 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,454 in Kingston versus $2,006 in Green Island.

Living in Kingston is roughly 64% more expensive than in Green Island, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Green Island is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.60 JMD 1,197

$7.45 JMD 1,174

2.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,701

$63.7 JMD 10.0K

-3.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$8.68 JMD 1,367

-1.38%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.40 JMD 694

-2.05%

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

$1.32 JMD 208

$1.36 JMD 214

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.71 JMD 112

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.44 JMD 384

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

$3.10 JMD 487

-0.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.38 JMD 690

$4.29 JMD 676

2.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 JMD 574

$3.63 JMD 572

0.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$1.63 JMD 257

-4.29%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 545

$3.58 JMD 564

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 JMD 1,736

$11.13 JMD 1,752

-0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$6.18 JMD 973

4.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,189

$7.47 JMD 1,176

1.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.86 JMD 923

$5.88 JMD 925

-0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.05 JMD 480

1.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 652

$4.27 JMD 673

-3.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 479

$2.93 JMD 461

3.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 330

$2.01 JMD 317

4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.02 JMD 317

-4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 482

$3.01 JMD 474

1.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 233

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 JMD 1,407

$8.58 JMD 1,351

4.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.39 JMD 1,793

$11.54 JMD 1,818

-1.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.78 JMD 438

1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.22 JMD 506

-1.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.50 JMD 7,638

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 513

$3.25 JMD 512

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

$6.34 JMD 999

-1.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.23 JMD 193

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-2.61%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

-1.82%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$164 JMD 25.8K

0.47%

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

$22.23 JMD 3,501

$22.27 JMD 3,506

-0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,057

$51.6 JMD 8,123

-0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 JMD 2,449

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 JMD 2,074

$13.28 JMD 2,091

-0.83%

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

$229 JMD 36.1K

$226 JMD 35.6K

1.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,465 JMD 388.2K

$2,522 JMD 397.2K

-2.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 JMD 4,057

$25.71 JMD 4,048

0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.21 JMD 3,970

$25.41 JMD 4,001

-0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

-2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

-1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 JMD 138.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 JMD 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,815 JMD 443.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,200 JMD 346.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Green Island: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $64.0 in Green Island. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $349, 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 64% in total monthly costs ($1,468 vs $894 including rent). Green Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,202 in Kingston and $1,341 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 1% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,468 per month in Kingston versus $894 in Green Island – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $894 in Green Island versus $1,468 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 64% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.