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: $1,454 in Kingston versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $1,900 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $2,650 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Living in Kingston is roughly 26% more expensive than Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Saint Andrew Parish is 14% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.54 JMD 1,186
$7.61 JMD 1,197
-0.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 JMD 9,962
$34.16 JMD 5,373
85.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 JMD 1,378
$6.24 JMD 981
40.38%
Cappuccino
$4.44 JMD 699
$1.90 JMD 299
133.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 JMD 206
$0.96 JMD 152
36.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 JMD 109
$0.75 JMD 117
-8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 JMD 404
$2.43 JMD 383
5.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 JMD 485
$3.16 JMD 497
-2.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.32 JMD 680
$4.26 JMD 670
1.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 JMD 557
$1.03 JMD 162
243.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 JMD 253
$1.29 JMD 202
24.81%
Eggs
$3.50 JMD 550
$3.46 JMD 544
1.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 JMD 1,745
$10.96 JMD 1,723
1.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.50 JMD 1,022
$6.29 JMD 989
3.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.79 JMD 1,225
$7.57 JMD 1,191
2.91%
Apples (1kg)
$6.15 JMD 967
$5.99 JMD 942
2.67%
Banana (1kg)
$3.06 JMD 481
$3.09 JMD 487
-0.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 JMD 681
$4.15 JMD 652
4.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.00 JMD 472
$2.90 JMD 456
3.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 JMD 322
$2.01 JMD 316
1.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 JMD 301
$2.02 JMD 318
-5.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.13 JMD 492
$3.08 JMD 484
1.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 JMD 228
$1.50 JMD 236
-3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.00 JMD 1,416
$8.85 JMD 1,392
1.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.59 JMD 1,823
$11.46 JMD 1,802
1.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 JMD 449
$2.77 JMD 436
3.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 JMD 485
$3.19 JMD 502
-3.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 JMD 140
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.88 JMD 7,844
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 JMD 170
$1.11 JMD 175
-2.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.16 JMD 497
$3.15 JMD 496
0.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.17 JMD 971
$6.22 JMD 977
-0.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 JMD 195
$1.28 JMD 202
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8K JMD 6.7M
$42.1K JMD 6.6M
1.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K JMD 5.3M
$34.1K JMD 5.4M
-1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 JMD 25.9K
$165 JMD 25.9K
-0.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76 JMD 3,422
$21.80 JMD 3,429
-0.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.9 JMD 8,162
$51.1 JMD 8,029
1.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.4 JMD 10.9K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 JMD 2,433
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.21 JMD 2,078
$13.05 JMD 2,052
1.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 JMD 35.9K
$222 JMD 34.9K
2.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,456 JMD 386.2K
$2,473 JMD 389.0K
-0.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.42 JMD 4,156
$26.59 JMD 4,182
-0.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.61 JMD 4,028
$25.91 JMD 4,074
-1.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.9 JMD 11.0K
$71.1 JMD 11.2K
-1.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 JMD 12.2K
$75.4 JMD 11.9K
2.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$886 JMD 139.4K
$747 JMD 117.4K
18.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 JMD 70.2K
$309 JMD 48.6K
44.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,996 JMD 313.9K
$1,880 JMD 295.7K
6.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 JMD 190.8K
$884 JMD 139.0K
37.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,824 JMD 444.1K
$2,760 JMD 434.1K
2.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,167 JMD 340.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 JMD 118.6K
$724 JMD 113.8K
4.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
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 Saint Andrew Parish: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $886 in Kingston and $747 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 4% 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 $34.00 in Saint Andrew Parish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $322 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
Which city is more expensive, Kingston or Saint Andrew Parish?
Saint Andrew Parish wins on cost – living expenses run 26% 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.
Are salaries higher in Kingston or Saint Andrew Parish?
Kingston pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kingston vs Saint Andrew Parish?
Rent for a central apartment: $886 in Kingston versus $747 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Kingston or Saint Andrew Parish?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Kingston compared to Saint Andrew Parish?
All in, you'll spend $1,454 per month in Kingston versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kingston or Saint Andrew Parish?
At $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,454 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kingston or Saint Andrew Parish?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Saint Andrew Parish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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