Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,451 in Kingston versus $630 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,475 in Kingston versus $973 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,498 in Kingston versus $1,316 in May Pen.

Living in Kingston is roughly 130% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, May Pen is 53% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,192

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 JMD 9,707

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 JMD 1,379

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 682

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

$1.32 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 403

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 501

Milk (1 liter)

$4.36 JMD 684

$2.24 JMD 351

94.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 573

$3.68 JMD 576

-0.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

$3.18 JMD 498

-50.63%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 543

$3.46 JMD 542

0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 JMD 1,754

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,007

$7.63 JMD 1,196

-15.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,225

$5.09 JMD 797

53.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 933

$1.53 JMD 240

289.54%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 491

$5.11 JMD 801

-38.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 JMD 673

$6.08 JMD 952

-29.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 464

$1.91 JMD 299

54.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 317

$1.93 JMD 302

5.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 315

$1.85 JMD 290

8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 JMD 489

$3.19 JMD 501

-2.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 227

$2.90 JMD 454

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 JMD 1,393

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,769

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 454

$2.22 JMD 348

30.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

$0.83 JMD 130

7.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 494

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 971

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.41 JMD 222

-9.22%

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

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

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

$163 JMD 25.5K

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

$22.49 JMD 3,523

$41.74 JMD 6,540

-46.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 7,942

$39.36 JMD 6,167

28.79%

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

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

$222 JMD 34.8K

$313 JMD 49.0K

-29.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,032

$15.86 JMD 2,485

62.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 JMD 3,955

$21.62 JMD 3,388

16.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

$40.73 JMD 6,382

77.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

$53.5 JMD 8,379

41.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 137.9K

$177 JMD 27.7K

397.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.7K

$217 JMD 33.9K

108.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

$563 JMD 88.2K

259.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

$443 JMD 69.5K

171.57%

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 May Pen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Kingston and $177 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 130% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making May Pen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,177 in Kingston and $945 in May Pen 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $880 in Kingston versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,451 per month in Kingston versus $630 in May Pen – a 130% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $630 in May Pen versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen 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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 130% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.