Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Lucea Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Lucea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,702 in Kingston versus $1,020 in Lucea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,853 in Kingston versus $1,684 in Lucea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,004 in Kingston versus $2,349 in Lucea.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 23% above, Lucea is 26% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.79 JMD 2,481

$16.07 JMD 2,525

-1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

-0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,345

$8.82 JMD 1,385

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$5.40 JMD 848

$5.44 JMD 854

-0.74%

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

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.19 JMD 186

4.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 109

$0.69 JMD 109

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 JMD 348

$2.18 JMD 343

1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.19 JMD 500

-0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.25 JMD 667

$4.20 JMD 660

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

$3.67 JMD 576

0.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.65 JMD 258

-1.82%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.46 JMD 544

-0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 JMD 1,822

$11.58 JMD 1,819

0.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 JMD 1,007

$6.21 JMD 976

3.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 JMD 1,596

$10.21 JMD 1,604

-0.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 967

$5.95 JMD 934

3.53%

Banana (1kg)

$4.00 JMD 629

$3.89 JMD 611

2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$7.34 JMD 1,153

-0.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 467

$3.04 JMD 477

-2.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$3.36 JMD 527

-3.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 JMD 424

$2.62 JMD 411

3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

$2.99 JMD 470

5.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 233

$1.47 JMD 231

1.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 JMD 1,440

$9.43 JMD 1,481

-2.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,754

$11.29 JMD 1,774

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.95 JMD 463

-4.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 621

$3.98 JMD 625

-0.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 JMD 193

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.10 JMD 487

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 979

$6.36 JMD 999

-2.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 218

$1.35 JMD 213

2.96%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

$43.8K JMD 6.9M

1.60%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

-1.28%

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

$178 JMD 28.0K

$173 JMD 27.2K

2.71%

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

$29.81 JMD 4,682

$29.94 JMD 4,703

-0.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 JMD 8,241

$52.4 JMD 8,222

0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 JMD 2,065

$13.33 JMD 2,093

-1.35%

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

$357 JMD 56.1K

$359 JMD 56.4K

-0.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$8,217 JMD 1.3M

-0.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.41 JMD 3,678

$23.79 JMD 3,738

-1.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.32 JMD 4,919

$31.08 JMD 4,883

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

$79.4 JMD 12.5K

-3.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$105 JMD 16.4K

-2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 JMD 116.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Last update for Lucea: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $76.0 in Kingston vs $76.0 in Lucea. Groceries flip the comparison at $386 vs $383, with Lucea 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 Lucea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lucea wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lucea the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,554 in Kingston and $1,530 in Lucea 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 $1,702 per month in Kingston versus $1,020 in Lucea – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,020 in Lucea versus $1,702 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lucea but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Lucea 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 Lucea 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.