Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Negril Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Negril

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,454 in Kingston versus $859 in Negril.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $1,358 in Negril.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $1,856 in Negril.

Living in Kingston is roughly 69% more expensive than Negril, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Negril is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$7.46 JMD 1,173

1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,964

$50.1 JMD 7,882

26.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

$8.56 JMD 1,347

2.34%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

$2.06 JMD 323

115.53%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.32 JMD 208

-0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.76 JMD 119

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.47 JMD 389

4.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.09 JMD 487

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

$4.21 JMD 662

2.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$3.49 JMD 549

1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.57 JMD 248

2.55%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

$3.41 JMD 536

2.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,746

$10.85 JMD 1,707

2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

$6.29 JMD 989

3.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

$7.67 JMD 1,206

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

$5.99 JMD 942

2.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$3.03 JMD 476

0.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$4.29 JMD 675

0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

$2.93 JMD 461

2.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

$2.08 JMD 327

-1.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.95 JMD 307

-2.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.07 JMD 484

1.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$1.49 JMD 234

-2.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,824

$11.59 JMD 1,823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 450

$2.79 JMD 439

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.20 JMD 504

-3.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,845

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.09 JMD 171

-0.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.24 JMD 510

-2.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

$6.15 JMD 967

0.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.13%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

-0.27%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-1.79%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$164 JMD 25.8K

0.54%

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

$21.76 JMD 3,423

$22.38 JMD 3,520

-2.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,163

$51.6 JMD 8,121

0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,434

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

$13.20 JMD 2,076

0.08%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$230 JMD 36.2K

-0.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.3K

$2,528 JMD 397.6K

-2.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

$25.97 JMD 4,085

-1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$70.8 JMD 11.1K

-1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

0.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 139.4K

$984 JMD 154.7K

-9.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 190.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

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 7, 2026

Last update for Negril: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $886 in Kingston and $984 in Negril. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Kingston vs $50.0 in Negril for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $348 per month, with Negril 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 Negril: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negril wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negril the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,180 in Kingston and $1,289 in Negril 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: $886 in Kingston versus $984 in Negril. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% 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 $859 in Negril – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $859 in Negril versus $1,454 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Negril but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Negril 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 Negril gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.