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: $1,468 in Kingston versus $870 in Negril.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,461 in Kingston versus $1,358 in Negril.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,454 in Kingston versus $1,846 in Negril.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Negril is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.60 JMD 1,197

$7.59 JMD 1,195

0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,701

$49.34 JMD 7,770

24.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$9.00 JMD 1,418

-4.89%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$1.97 JMD 310

118.78%

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

$1.32 JMD 208

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.76 JMD 119

-1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.46 JMD 388

-1.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

$3.06 JMD 482

0.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.38 JMD 690

$4.40 JMD 693

-0.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 JMD 574

$3.47 JMD 546

4.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$1.57 JMD 247

-0.64%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 545

$3.56 JMD 560

-2.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 JMD 1,736

$11.00 JMD 1,732

0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$6.26 JMD 985

3.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,189

$7.81 JMD 1,229

-3.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.86 JMD 923

$6.07 JMD 956

-3.46%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.14 JMD 495

-1.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 652

$4.26 JMD 671

-2.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 479

$2.91 JMD 458

4.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 330

$2.01 JMD 317

4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.00 JMD 315

-3.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 482

$3.07 JMD 483

-0.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 233

$1.44 JMD 227

2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 JMD 1,407

$8.57 JMD 1,350

4.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.39 JMD 1,793

$11.42 JMD 1,799

-0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.81 JMD 443

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.08 JMD 485

3.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.50 JMD 7,638

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

$1.09 JMD 171

1.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 513

$3.13 JMD 493

3.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.27 JMD 200

-3.15%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

-2.18%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

-2.58%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$165 JMD 26.0K

-0.19%

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

$22.23 JMD 3,501

$22.25 JMD 3,505

-0.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,057

$51.0 JMD 8,024

0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 JMD 2,449

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 JMD 2,074

$13.06 JMD 2,057

0.84%

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

$229 JMD 36.1K

$230 JMD 36.2K

-0.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,465 JMD 388.2K

$2,500 JMD 393.7K

-1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 JMD 4,057

$25.79 JMD 4,061

-0.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.21 JMD 3,970

$25.48 JMD 4,013

-1.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

$72.2 JMD 11.4K

-3.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$74.8 JMD 11.8K

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 JMD 138.3K

$1,003 JMD 158.0K

-12.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 JMD 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,815 JMD 443.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,200 JMD 346.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.7K

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Negril: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $878 in Kingston and $1,003 in Negril. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $49.00 in Negril for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $350 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 $2,202 in Kingston and $1,305 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: $878 in Kingston versus $1,003 in Negril. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,468 per month in Kingston versus $870 in Negril – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $870 in Negril versus $1,468 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.