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: $1,471 in Kingston versus $1,287 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,446 in Kingston versus $1,759 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,420 in Kingston versus $2,231 in Montego Bay.

Living in Kingston is roughly 14% more expensive than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Montego Bay is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$7.69 JMD 1,208

-5.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.8 JMD 9,862

$50.9 JMD 7,988

23.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 JMD 1,412

$7.30 JMD 1,147

23.15%

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 684

$4.38 JMD 688

-0.46%

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

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.37 JMD 216

-0.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.71 JMD 112

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 JMD 387

$2.48 JMD 389

-0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.08 JMD 484

3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.41 JMD 693

$2.52 JMD 396

75.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 JMD 563

$2.68 JMD 421

33.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.57 JMD 246

2.55%

Eggs

$3.55 JMD 558

$3.60 JMD 565

-1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.14 JMD 1,750

$11.03 JMD 1,732

1.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,014

$6.43 JMD 1,010

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,185

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-2.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 966

$3.37 JMD 529

82.49%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 JMD 476

$3.09 JMD 486

-1.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 650

$2.84 JMD 445

45.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 464

$1.76 JMD 277

68.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 330

$2.12 JMD 333

-0.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$1.13 JMD 177

69.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 JMD 483

$1.91 JMD 300

60.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$0.93 JMD 146

55.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 JMD 1,367

$8.61 JMD 1,352

1.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.41 JMD 1,791

$11.46 JMD 1,800

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 456

$2.11 JMD 331

37.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 482

$3.06 JMD 481

0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 138

$0.93 JMD 146

-5.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.34 JMD 7,750

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 JMD 177

$0.93 JMD 146

21.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 510

$3.22 JMD 505

0.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 JMD 955

$6.37 JMD 1,001

-4.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 200

$1.24 JMD 195

3.23%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

$42.3K JMD 6.6M

2.53%

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

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-2.60%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

-0.05%

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

$22.50 JMD 3,533

$21.26 JMD 3,339

5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,029

$47.70 JMD 7,491

7.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.8 JMD 11.0K

$37.35 JMD 5,866

86.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 JMD 2,431

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 JMD 2,063

$7.54 JMD 1,185

74.14%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$62.6 JMD 9,827

264.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,527 JMD 396.9K

$1,882 JMD 295.6K

34.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.50 JMD 4,163

$26.12 JMD 4,102

1.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 JMD 4,062

$20.10 JMD 3,157

28.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 JMD 11.3K

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

8.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

2.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 JMD 137.7K

$257 JMD 40.3K

241.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 JMD 70.5K

$461 JMD 72.4K

-2.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 JMD 316.9K

$669 JMD 105.0K

201.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 JMD 190.5K

$431 JMD 67.7K

181.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,865 JMD 450.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 JMD 346.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 JMD 115.2K

$562 JMD 88.3K

30.51%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $877 in Kingston and $257 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 31% 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 $51.0 in Montego Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 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 14% 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.

Kingston pays 31% more on average, 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: $877 in Kingston versus $257 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,471 per month in Kingston versus $1,287 in Montego Bay – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,287 in Montego Bay versus $1,471 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 14% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.