Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Saint Ann's Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Saint Ann's Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,702 in Kingston versus $1,029 in Saint Ann's Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,853 in Kingston versus $1,626 in Saint Ann's Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,004 in Kingston versus $2,223 in Saint Ann's Bay.

Living in Kingston is roughly 65% more expensive than in Saint Ann's Bay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 23% above, Saint Ann's Bay is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.79 JMD 2,481

$15.54 JMD 2,441

1.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$49.54 JMD 7,781

53.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,345

$8.64 JMD 1,357

-0.93%

Cappuccino

$5.40 JMD 848

$5.19 JMD 815

4.05%

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

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.20 JMD 188

3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 109

$0.73 JMD 114

-4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 JMD 348

$2.26 JMD 355

-2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.10 JMD 487

2.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.25 JMD 667

$4.21 JMD 662

0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

$3.84 JMD 604

-4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.62 JMD 254

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.52 JMD 553

-2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 JMD 1,822

$11.31 JMD 1,776

2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 JMD 1,007

$6.39 JMD 1,003

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 JMD 1,596

$10.43 JMD 1,638

-2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 967

$5.92 JMD 929

4.05%

Banana (1kg)

$4.00 JMD 629

$3.78 JMD 594

5.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$7.59 JMD 1,193

-3.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 467

$3.13 JMD 491

-5.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$3.29 JMD 516

-1.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 JMD 424

$2.63 JMD 413

2.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

$3.03 JMD 476

3.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 233

$1.47 JMD 231

1.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 JMD 1,440

$9.37 JMD 1,472

-2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,754

$11.52 JMD 1,809

-3.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.92 JMD 459

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 621

$3.91 JMD 614

1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 JMD 193

$1.17 JMD 184

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.12 JMD 491

-0.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 979

$6.38 JMD 1,002

-2.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 218

$1.32 JMD 207

5.30%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

$44.9K JMD 7.1M

-0.76%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$32.5K JMD 5.1M

1.23%

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

$178 JMD 28.0K

-0.26%

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

$29.81 JMD 4,682

$29.66 JMD 4,659

0.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 JMD 8,241

$53.6 JMD 8,426

-2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 JMD 2,065

$13.17 JMD 2,069

-0.15%

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

$357 JMD 56.1K

$356 JMD 55.9K

0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$8,294 JMD 1.3M

-1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.41 JMD 3,678

$24.11 JMD 3,787

-2.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.32 JMD 4,919

$32.22 JMD 5,061

-2.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

$76.9 JMD 12.1K

-0.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$101 JMD 15.9K

0.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 JMD 116.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

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

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Last update for Saint Ann's Bay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $76.0 in Kingston vs $50.0 in Saint Ann's Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $386 vs $387, with Kingston 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 Saint Ann's Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Ann's Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint Ann's Bay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,554 in Kingston and $1,544 in Saint Ann's Bay 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.

Shoppers in Kingston pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,702 per month in Kingston versus $1,029 in Saint Ann's Bay – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,029 in Saint Ann's Bay versus $1,702 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saint Ann's Bay but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Ann's Bay 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 Ann's Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.