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: $1,482 in Kingston versus $885 in Linstead.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,489 in Kingston versus $1,459 in Linstead.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,496 in Kingston versus $2,033 in Linstead.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 11% above, Linstead is 34% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 JMD 1,176

$7.32 JMD 1,153

1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.7 JMD 9,720

$62.8 JMD 9,899

-1.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 JMD 1,352

$8.71 JMD 1,373

-1.49%

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 692

$4.38 JMD 691

0.23%

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

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.35 JMD 213

-1.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.76 JMD 120

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.56 JMD 403

-5.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 489

$3.16 JMD 498

-1.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.33 JMD 682

$4.37 JMD 689

-0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 JMD 551

$3.53 JMD 556

-1.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 JMD 258

$1.62 JMD 255

1.23%

Eggs

$3.61 JMD 568

$3.48 JMD 548

3.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.20 JMD 1,765

$11.15 JMD 1,757

0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,016

$6.51 JMD 1,026

-0.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,232

$7.76 JMD 1,222

0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 JMD 945

$6.05 JMD 954

-0.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 JMD 470

$3.01 JMD 474

-1.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 JMD 663

$4.26 JMD 671

-1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 JMD 457

$3.06 JMD 482

-5.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 319

$2.07 JMD 327

-2.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 315

$2.01 JMD 317

-0.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 JMD 475

$3.11 JMD 491

-3.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 JMD 238

$1.46 JMD 230

3.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 JMD 1,357

$8.96 JMD 1,413

-3.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,808

$11.50 JMD 1,813

-0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$2.91 JMD 458

-4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 480

$3.07 JMD 484

-0.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 128

$0.76 JMD 119

6.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

$1.12 JMD 176

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 507

$3.24 JMD 510

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.34 JMD 999

$6.10 JMD 962

3.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$1.23 JMD 194

0.81%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

0.31%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

0.72%

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

$161 JMD 25.3K

$163 JMD 25.7K

-1.30%

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

$22.24 JMD 3,504

$22.00 JMD 3,467

1.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 JMD 8,191

$50.9 JMD 8,020

2.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 JMD 2,508

Cinema Ticket

$13.38 JMD 2,109

$13.39 JMD 2,109

-0.07%

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

$222 JMD 35.0K

$228 JMD 36.0K

-2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,532 JMD 399.1K

$2,519 JMD 396.9K

0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.81 JMD 4,068

$26.43 JMD 4,165

-2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 JMD 4,017

$25.42 JMD 4,006

0.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

$71.4 JMD 11.2K

-0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

$75.0 JMD 11.8K

-0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 138.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 JMD 316.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 187.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 JMD 451.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,153 JMD 339.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 115.4K

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 11, 2026

Last update for Linstead: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $63.0 in Linstead for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $353 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 Linstead: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Linstead wins on cost – living expenses run 67% 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 $2,223 in Kingston and $1,328 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.

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 $1,482 per month in Kingston versus $885 in Linstead – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $885 in Linstead versus $1,482 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 67% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.