Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Linstead Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Linstead

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,451 in Kingston versus $879 in Linstead.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,475 in Kingston versus $1,429 in Linstead.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,498 in Kingston versus $1,980 in Linstead.

Living in Kingston is roughly 65% more expensive than Linstead, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Linstead is 34% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,192

$7.58 JMD 1,188

0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 JMD 9,707

$62.9 JMD 9,859

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 JMD 1,379

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 682

$4.43 JMD 694

-1.58%

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

$1.32 JMD 207

$1.31 JMD 205

0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.76 JMD 120

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 403

$2.46 JMD 386

4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 501

$3.11 JMD 487

2.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.36 JMD 684

$4.19 JMD 656

4.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 573

$3.65 JMD 572

0.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 543

$3.55 JMD 556

-2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 JMD 1,754

$11.17 JMD 1,751

0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,007

$6.32 JMD 990

1.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,225

$7.61 JMD 1,193

2.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 933

$6.13 JMD 960

-2.77%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 491

$2.99 JMD 468

4.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 JMD 673

$4.21 JMD 659

2.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 464

$3.07 JMD 481

-3.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 317

$2.04 JMD 320

-0.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 315

$1.99 JMD 312

1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 JMD 489

$3.01 JMD 472

3.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 227

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 JMD 1,393

$8.56 JMD 1,342

3.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,769

$11.59 JMD 1,816

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 454

$2.84 JMD 445

2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.18 JMD 498

0.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

$0.77 JMD 120

15.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

$1.13 JMD 177

-0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 494

$3.17 JMD 497

-0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 971

$6.17 JMD 967

0.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

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

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

1.37%

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

1.31%

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

$163 JMD 25.5K

$163 JMD 25.6K

-0.39%

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

$22.49 JMD 3,523

$22.50 JMD 3,525

-0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 7,942

$50.8 JMD 7,966

-0.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,428

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 JMD 2,024

$12.90 JMD 2,022

0.16%

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

$222 JMD 34.8K

$223 JMD 34.9K

-0.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

$2,481 JMD 388.8K

-1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,032

$26.23 JMD 4,110

-1.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 JMD 3,955

$25.71 JMD 4,029

-1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

$71.7 JMD 11.2K

0.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

$77.5 JMD 12.1K

-2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 137.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,863 JMD 448.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 JMD 343.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 114.7K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Linstead: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $63.0 in Linstead. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $351, with Linstead 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 Linstead: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Linstead wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Linstead the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,177 in Kingston and $1,319 in Linstead 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 $1,451 per month in Kingston versus $879 in Linstead – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $879 in Linstead versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Linstead but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Linstead 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 Linstead gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.