Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Ocho Rios Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Ocho Rios

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,451 in Kingston versus $928 in Ocho Rios.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,475 in Kingston versus $1,932 in Ocho Rios.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,498 in Kingston versus $2,936 in Ocho Rios.

Living in Kingston is roughly 56% more expensive than Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Ocho Rios is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,196

$7.32 JMD 1,151

3.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 JMD 9,741

$62.2 JMD 9,776

-0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 JMD 1,384

$6.30 JMD 991

39.68%

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 685

$2.79 JMD 438

56.27%

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

$1.32 JMD 207

$1.38 JMD 217

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.76 JMD 119

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.26 JMD 355

13.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.17 JMD 499

0.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.36 JMD 686

$3.95 JMD 621

10.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 575

$2.72 JMD 427

34.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$1.56 JMD 245

0.64%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 545

$3.47 JMD 546

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 JMD 1,760

$6.48 JMD 1,018

72.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,010

$6.34 JMD 998

1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 JMD 1,229

$7.47 JMD 1,175

4.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 937

$5.90 JMD 927

1.02%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 492

$3.16 JMD 497

-0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 JMD 676

$4.11 JMD 646

4.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 465

$2.26 JMD 355

30.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$2.04 JMD 322

-0.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 316

$2.03 JMD 319

-0.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 JMD 490

$2.08 JMD 328

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$1.08 JMD 170

34.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 JMD 1,398

$8.97 JMD 1,410

-0.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,775

$9.63 JMD 1,514

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 455

$2.45 JMD 386

18.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 504

$3.02 JMD 475

5.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

$1.54 JMD 243

-42.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 177

$0.65 JMD 102

72.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 496

$0.96 JMD 151

228.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 974

$6.38 JMD 1,003

-2.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

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

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

0.65%

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

-0.32%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$103 JMD 16.2K

57.56%

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

$22.49 JMD 3,536

$22.01 JMD 3,460

2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 7,970

$38.06 JMD 5,985

33.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

$15.73 JMD 2,473

341.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,437

$5.80 JMD 912

167.24%

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 JMD 2,031

$11.46 JMD 1,802

12.74%

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

$222 JMD 34.9K

$224 JMD 35.2K

-0.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,451 JMD 385.4K

$2,461 JMD 387.0K

-0.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,046

$15.92 JMD 2,504

61.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 JMD 3,969

$12.36 JMD 1,943

104.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

$50.8 JMD 7,983

42.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.6 JMD 11.9K

$63.2 JMD 9,937

19.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 138.4K

$382 JMD 60.0K

130.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.9K

$185 JMD 29.0K

144.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 317.8K

$1,185 JMD 186.4K

70.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 189.4K

$1,217 JMD 191.4K

-1.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,863 JMD 450.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 JMD 344.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 115.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

83.00%

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

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Kingston and $382 in Ocho Rios. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $62.0 in Ocho Rios. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $306, with Ocho Rios cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ocho Rios: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ocho Rios wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ocho Rios the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,177 in Kingston and $1,391 in Ocho Rios 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: $880 in Kingston versus $382 in Ocho Rios. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,451 per month in Kingston versus $928 in Ocho Rios – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $928 in Ocho Rios versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ocho Rios but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.