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