🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,482 in Kingston versus $1,624 in San Miguel de Allende.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,489 in Kingston versus $2,626 in San Miguel de Allende.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,496 in Kingston versus $3,627 in San Miguel de Allende.
🌍Living in Kingston costs roughly 9% less than in San Miguel de Allende, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston11% above, San Miguel de Allende22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46JMD 1,176
$10.53MX$185
-29.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7JMD 9,720
$47.83MX$838
28.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.58JMD 1,352
$7.96MX$139
7.79%
Cappuccino
$4.39JMD 692
$3.56MX$62.4
23.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33JMD 209
$1.38MX$24.15
-3.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74JMD 117
$0.98MX$17.17
-24.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43JMD 383
$2.86MX$50.2
-15.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10JMD 489
$5.05MX$88.5
-38.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.33JMD 682
$1.35MX$23.65
220.74%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49JMD 551
$3.82MX$66.9
-8.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64JMD 258
$1.87MX$32.83
-12.30%
Eggs
$3.61JMD 568
$2.54MX$44.48
42.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.20JMD 1,765
$8.10MX$142
38.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.45JMD 1,016
$14.23MX$249
-54.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.82JMD 1,232
$17.30MX$303
-54.80%
Apples(1kg)
$5.99JMD 945
$4.20MX$73.7
42.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98JMD 470
$1.64MX$28.79
81.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21JMD 663
$3.13MX$54.8
34.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.90JMD 457
$2.69MX$47.18
7.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02JMD 319
$2.46MX$43.16
-17.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00JMD 315
$3.02MX$52.9
-33.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.01JMD 475
$1.57MX$27.52
91.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51JMD 238
$1.31MX$22.91
15.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.61JMD 1,357
$4.35MX$76.3
97.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.47JMD 1,808
$17.09MX$300
-32.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78JMD 438
$2.30MX$40.26
20.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04JMD 480
$3.81MX$66.8
-20.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.81JMD 128
$0.40MX$7.03
102.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.18JMD 7,751
$6.41MX$112
667.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09JMD 171
$4.33MX$75.8
-74.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 507
$0.30MX$5.30
973.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.34JMD 999
$7.88MX$138
-19.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24JMD 196
$1.31MX$22.92
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.4KJMD 6.8M
$18.1KMX$317.2K
140.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$21.7KMX$379.6K
57.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161JMD 25.3K
$57.5MX$1,007
179.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24JMD 3,504
$21.19MX$371
4.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0JMD 8,191
$35.21MX$617
47.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.9JMD 10.9K
$47.32MX$829
45.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91JMD 2,508
$39.63MX$695
-59.85%
Cinema Ticket
$13.38JMD 2,109
$7.02MX$123
90.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222JMD 35.0K
$345MX$6,045
-35.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,532JMD 399.1K
$4,759MX$83.4K
-46.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.81JMD 4,068
$63.4MX$1,111
-59.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.49JMD 4,017
$58.2MX$1,019
-56.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8JMD 11.2K
$109MX$1,910
-35.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9JMD 11.8K
$141MX$2,478
-47.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$880JMD 138.6K
$1,109MX$19.4K
-20.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451JMD 71.2K
$726MX$12.7K
-37.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007JMD 316.2K
$2,504MX$43.9K
-19.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,188JMD 187.2K
$1,508MX$26.4K
-21.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,866JMD 451.6K
$2,879MX$50.5K
-0.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,153JMD 339.4K
$1,658MX$29.1K
29.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$732JMD 115.4K
$635MX$11.1K
15.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
12.17
-24.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026
Last update for San Miguel de Allende: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $880 in Kingston and $1,109 in San Miguel de Allende. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Kingston vs $48.00 in San Miguel de Allende. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $362, 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 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 10% 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 15% 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: $880 in Kingston versus $1,109 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 $222 in Kingston versus $345 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in San Miguel de Allende. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kingston or in San Miguel de Allende?
At $1,482 in Kingston versus $1,624 in San Miguel de Allende, a $1,000 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 $1,482 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 10% less than in San Miguel de Allende. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.