Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Montego Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Montego Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,459 in Kingston versus $1,295 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,444 in Kingston versus $1,753 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,429 in Kingston versus $2,210 in Montego Bay.

Living in Kingston is roughly 13% more expensive than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Montego Bay is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$7.54 JMD 1,188

0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 JMD 9,947

$50.2 JMD 7,898

25.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 JMD 1,409

$7.72 JMD 1,215

15.93%

Cappuccino

$4.46 JMD 703

$4.31 JMD 678

3.48%

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

$1.37 JMD 216

$1.32 JMD 209

3.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.76 JMD 120

-1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.46 JMD 388

-1.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 JMD 495

$3.07 JMD 484

2.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.18 JMD 659

$2.47 JMD 390

69.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 558

$2.82 JMD 444

25.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 243

$1.60 JMD 252

-3.75%

Eggs

$3.52 JMD 555

$3.46 JMD 544

1.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 JMD 1,738

$11.12 JMD 1,752

-0.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,021

$6.46 JMD 1,017

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 JMD 1,229

$7.69 JMD 1,211

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.95 JMD 938

$3.35 JMD 528

77.61%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 682

$2.74 JMD 431

58.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 JMD 460

$1.79 JMD 281

63.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 329

$2.04 JMD 321

2.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 319

$1.13 JMD 177

78.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 468

$1.84 JMD 290

61.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$0.93 JMD 147

54.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.72 JMD 1,373

$8.80 JMD 1,386

-0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,779

$11.16 JMD 1,758

1.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$2.12 JMD 334

31.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 JMD 130

$0.92 JMD 145

-10.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.33 JMD 7,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

$0.96 JMD 152

11.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 JMD 503

$3.25 JMD 512

-1.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 JMD 1,006

$6.13 JMD 966

4.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

0.71%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

3.16%

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

0.01%

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

$21.77 JMD 3,428

$21.61 JMD 3,404

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 JMD 8,143

$48.06 JMD 7,569

7.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

$37.26 JMD 5,869

86.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.93 JMD 2,509

Cinema Ticket

$13.03 JMD 2,052

$7.57 JMD 1,192

72.13%

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

$223 JMD 35.1K

$62.7 JMD 9,870

255.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 395.6K

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

35.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.87 JMD 4,074

$26.57 JMD 4,185

-2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.40 JMD 4,001

$19.57 JMD 3,083

29.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

0.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 JMD 143.2K

$265 JMD 41.7K

243.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 JMD 72.9K

$448 JMD 70.6K

3.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,028 JMD 319.4K

$662 JMD 104.3K

206.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 JMD 184.9K

$447 JMD 70.3K

162.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 JMD 438.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,164 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 JMD 115.4K

$552 JMD 87.0K

32.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

14.38%

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

Last update for Kingston: July 26, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $909 in Kingston and $265 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Kingston vs $50.0 in Montego Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $284 per month, with Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montego Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montego Bay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Kingston, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $909 in Kingston versus $265 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,459 per month in Kingston versus $1,295 in Montego Bay – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,295 in Montego Bay versus $1,459 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Montego Bay but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.