🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,684 in Kingston versus $1,732 in San Miguel de Allende.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,889 in Kingston versus $2,720 in San Miguel de Allende.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,093 in Kingston versus $3,707 in San Miguel de Allende.
🌍Living in Kingston costs roughly 3% less than in San Miguel de Allende, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston23% above, San Miguel de Allende26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.95JMD 2,513
$16.15MX$274
-1.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4JMD 11.7K
$44.82MX$762
65.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.81JMD 1,388
$11.05MX$188
-20.27%
Cappuccino
$5.22JMD 823
$4.08MX$69.3
27.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19JMD 188
$1.79MX$30.44
-33.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69JMD 109
$1.13MX$19.14
-38.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19JMD 345
$3.83MX$65.2
-42.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08JMD 486
$6.33MX$108
-51.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.06JMD 639
$1.61MX$27.32
152.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.74JMD 589
$3.51MX$59.7
6.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66JMD 261
$1.99MX$33.87
-16.58%
Eggs
$3.61JMD 570
$3.23MX$54.9
11.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.58JMD 1,826
$8.95MX$152
29.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19JMD 975
$13.22MX$225
-53.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.12JMD 1,595
$19.51MX$331
-48.13%
Apples(1kg)
$6.12JMD 964
$4.32MX$73.5
41.67%
Banana(1kg)
$3.99JMD 629
$1.72MX$29.16
131.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.48JMD 1,179
$3.11MX$52.9
140.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.11JMD 491
$2.98MX$50.7
4.36%
Potato(1kg)
$3.23JMD 510
$2.85MX$48.48
13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.64JMD 416
$3.45MX$58.7
-23.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.01JMD 474
$1.22MX$20.81
146.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46JMD 231
$1.39MX$23.61
5.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.74JMD 1,534
$4.59MX$78.0
112.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.32JMD 1,785
$17.37MX$295
-34.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78JMD 439
$2.67MX$45.31
4.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96JMD 625
$4.04MX$68.7
-1.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.81JMD 128
$0.58MX$9.77
39.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.60JMD 6,082
$6.94MX$118
456.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23JMD 193
$4.84MX$82.3
-74.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.14JMD 496
$4.82MX$81.8
-34.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.15JMD 970
$11.99MX$204
-48.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36JMD 215
$1.53MX$25.97
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7KJMD 6.9M
$23.1KMX$392.1K
89.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KJMD 5.1M
$25.6KMX$434.4K
26.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172JMD 27.1K
$45.17MX$768
280.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.66JMD 4,675
$17.58MX$299
68.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5JMD 8,278
$44.31MX$753
18.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.6JMD 9,862
$39.03MX$663
60.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94JMD 2,827
$45.37MX$771
-60.46%
Cinema Ticket
$13.35JMD 2,103
$7.11MX$121
87.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$367JMD 57.8K
$381MX$6,467
-3.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,302JMD 1.3M
$5,397MX$91.7K
53.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.88JMD 3,764
$70.5MX$1,197
-66.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.86JMD 5,020
$64.8MX$1,102
-50.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.2JMD 12.5K
$122MX$2,076
-35.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102JMD 16.1K
$159MX$2,698
-35.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$972JMD 153.2K
$1,137MX$19.3K
-14.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$563JMD 88.7K
$706MX$12.0K
-20.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,117JMD 333.5K
$2,464MX$41.9K
-14.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,434JMD 226.0K
$1,422MX$24.2K
0.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,902JMD 457.4K
$2,966MX$50.4K
-2.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,054JMD 323.7K
$1,727MX$29.4K
18.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$757JMD 119.3K
$663MX$11.3K
14.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.45
12.05
-21.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston: August 29, 2026
Last update for San Miguel de Allende: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $972 in Kingston and $1,137 in San Miguel de Allende. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Kingston vs $45.00 in San Miguel de Allende for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $376 per month, with San Miguel de Allende 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 San Miguel de Allende: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kingston or San Miguel de Allende?
Kingston wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in San Miguel de Allende. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kingston the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kingston or in San Miguel de Allende?
Average pay runs 14% higher in Kingston, 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 compared to San Miguel de Allende?
Rent for a central apartment: $972 in Kingston versus $1,137 in San Miguel de Allende. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Kingston and in San Miguel de Allende?
Childcare runs $367 in Kingston versus $381 in San Miguel de Allende. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Kingston or in San Miguel de Allende?
Shoppers in San Miguel de Allende pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kingston or in San Miguel de Allende?
At $1,684 in Kingston versus $1,732 in San Miguel de Allende, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kingston but tight or insufficient in San Miguel de Allende. The gap between the two cities makes Kingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kingston or San Miguel de Allende?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kingston delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,684 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kingston hard to pass up.
How safe is Kingston compared to San Miguel de Allende?
Safety-wise, Kingston and San Miguel de Allende are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in San Miguel de Allende. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.