Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Saint Andrew Parish Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Saint Andrew Parish

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,459 in Kingston versus $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,444 in Kingston versus $1,857 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,429 in Kingston versus $2,562 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Living in Kingston is roughly 27% more expensive than in Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Saint Andrew Parish is 13% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$7.67 JMD 1,208

-1.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 JMD 9,947

$34.87 JMD 5,492

81.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 JMD 1,409

$6.20 JMD 977

44.35%

Cappuccino

$4.46 JMD 703

$1.92 JMD 303

132.29%

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

$1.37 JMD 216

$0.91 JMD 143

50.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.74 JMD 117

1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 JMD 495

$3.11 JMD 491

0.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.18 JMD 659

$4.24 JMD 668

-1.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 558

$1.05 JMD 166

237.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 243

$1.22 JMD 192

26.23%

Eggs

$3.52 JMD 555

$3.60 JMD 566

-2.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 JMD 1,738

$10.97 JMD 1,728

0.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,021

$6.23 JMD 981

4.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 JMD 1,229

$7.60 JMD 1,198

2.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.95 JMD 938

$6.11 JMD 963

-2.62%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$3.12 JMD 491

0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 682

$4.13 JMD 650

4.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 JMD 460

$3.05 JMD 480

-4.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 329

$2.09 JMD 330

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 319

$1.93 JMD 303

4.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 468

$3.04 JMD 478

-2.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$1.50 JMD 235

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.72 JMD 1,373

$8.98 JMD 1,414

-2.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,779

$11.52 JMD 1,814

-2.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$2.80 JMD 440

-0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

$3.22 JMD 507

-2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 JMD 130

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.33 JMD 7,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 JMD 503

$3.14 JMD 495

1.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 JMD 1,006

$6.28 JMD 989

1.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.27 JMD 201

-3.15%

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

-0.98%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

3.42%

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

$162 JMD 25.5K

1.09%

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

$21.77 JMD 3,428

$22.24 JMD 3,502

-2.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 JMD 8,143

$52.0 JMD 8,190

-0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.93 JMD 2,509

Cinema Ticket

$13.03 JMD 2,052

$13.18 JMD 2,075

-1.14%

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

$223 JMD 35.1K

-0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 395.6K

$2,442 JMD 384.5K

2.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.87 JMD 4,074

$26.01 JMD 4,096

-0.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.40 JMD 4,001

$25.72 JMD 4,051

-1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

-1.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 JMD 143.2K

$755 JMD 118.9K

20.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 JMD 72.9K

$311 JMD 48.9K

49.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,028 JMD 319.4K

$1,895 JMD 298.5K

7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 JMD 184.9K

$889 JMD 139.9K

32.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 JMD 438.5K

$2,736 JMD 430.8K

1.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,164 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 JMD 115.4K

$720 JMD 113.4K

1.80%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $909 in Kingston and $755 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 2% 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 $35.00 in Saint Andrew Parish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $324 per month, with Saint Andrew Parish 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 Saint Andrew Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Andrew Parish wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Andrew Parish the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Kingston, 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: $909 in Kingston versus $755 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,459 per month in Kingston versus $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,459 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint Andrew Parish but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Andrew Parish 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 Saint Andrew Parish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.