Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,702 in Kingston versus $1,319 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,853 in Kingston versus $2,032 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,004 in Kingston versus $2,745 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Kingston is roughly 29% more expensive than in Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 23% above, Santa Cruz is 4% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.79 JMD 2,481

$7.51 JMD 1,180

110.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$62.6 JMD 9,839

21.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,345

$6.53 JMD 1,025

31.09%

Cappuccino

$5.40 JMD 848

$5.37 JMD 844

0.56%

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

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.25 JMD 196

-0.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 109

$0.68 JMD 107

2.94%

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

$3.12 JMD 490

1.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.25 JMD 667

$4.21 JMD 661

0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

$2.53 JMD 397

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.62 JMD 254

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.53 JMD 554

-2.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 JMD 1,822

$11.47 JMD 1,802

1.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 JMD 1,007

$6.35 JMD 998

0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 JMD 1,596

$10.43 JMD 1,638

-2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 967

$5.98 JMD 939

3.01%

Banana (1kg)

$4.00 JMD 629

$3.93 JMD 618

1.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$7.46 JMD 1,171

-2.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 467

$2.98 JMD 469

-0.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$3.22 JMD 506

0.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 JMD 424

$2.61 JMD 411

3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 233

$1.44 JMD 226

3.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 JMD 1,440

$9.61 JMD 1,510

-4.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,754

$11.48 JMD 1,803

-2.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.95 JMD 463

-4.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 621

$3.95 JMD 620

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

$1.19 JMD 187

3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.07 JMD 482

0.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 979

$6.42 JMD 1,009

-2.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 218

$1.38 JMD 217

0.72%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

0.06%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

-1.47%

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

$178 JMD 28.0K

$178 JMD 27.9K

0.16%

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

$29.81 JMD 4,682

$28.99 JMD 4,554

2.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 JMD 8,241

$52.1 JMD 8,178

0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

$37.11 JMD 5,829

64.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 JMD 2,065

$13.09 JMD 2,056

0.46%

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

$357 JMD 56.1K

$361 JMD 56.7K

-0.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$8,150 JMD 1.3M

0.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.41 JMD 3,678

$24.06 JMD 3,780

-2.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.32 JMD 4,919

$31.68 JMD 4,977

-1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$105 JMD 16.4K

-2.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

$313 JMD 49.2K

79.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

$504 JMD 79.2K

183.53%

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

$409 JMD 64.3K

81.87%

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 Santa Cruz: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kingston pays 82% 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: $76.0 in Kingston vs $63.0 in Santa Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $374 per month, with Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 82% higher in Kingston, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,702 per month in Kingston versus $1,319 in Santa Cruz – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,319 in Santa Cruz versus $1,702 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.