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: $1,454 in Kingston versus $1,314 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $1,787 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $2,261 in Montego Bay.

Living in Kingston is roughly 11% more expensive than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Montego Bay is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,962

$50.3 JMD 7,905

26.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

$7.38 JMD 1,161

18.70%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

$4.31 JMD 678

3.02%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.33 JMD 209

-1.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.76 JMD 120

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.43 JMD 382

5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.18 JMD 500

-3.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

$2.53 JMD 397

70.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$2.76 JMD 434

28.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.63 JMD 257

-1.23%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

$3.56 JMD 559

-1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,745

$10.94 JMD 1,721

1.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

$6.45 JMD 1,014

0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

$7.56 JMD 1,189

3.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

$3.42 JMD 537

79.82%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$3.14 JMD 494

-2.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$2.71 JMD 427

59.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

$1.75 JMD 275

71.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

$2.03 JMD 319

0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.13 JMD 178

69.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$1.91 JMD 301

63.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$0.95 JMD 149

52.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,823

$11.28 JMD 1,773

2.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 449

$2.11 JMD 332

35.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.16 JMD 497

-2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

$0.96 JMD 151

-7.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,844

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

$0.91 JMD 143

18.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.21 JMD 505

-1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

$6.40 JMD 1,006

-3.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.29 JMD 203

-3.88%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-1.88%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

-0.60%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$163 JMD 25.6K

1.19%

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

$21.76 JMD 3,422

$21.15 JMD 3,327

2.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,162

$47.83 JMD 7,522

8.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

$37.84 JMD 5,952

83.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,433

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

$7.55 JMD 1,188

74.97%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$63.0 JMD 9,903

262.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.2K

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

28.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

$25.80 JMD 4,057

2.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

$19.75 JMD 3,106

29.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

4.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

3.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 139.4K

$266 JMD 41.8K

233.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.2K

$448 JMD 70.4K

-0.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

$648 JMD 102.0K

207.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 190.8K

$442 JMD 69.6K

174.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

$552 JMD 86.8K

36.67%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $886 in Kingston and $266 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 37% 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 $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 11% 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 37% 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: $886 in Kingston versus $266 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 $1,454 per month in Kingston versus $1,314 in Montego Bay – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,314 in Montego Bay versus $1,454 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 11% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.