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: $1,454 in Kingston versus $879 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $1,438 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $1,998 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Kingston is roughly 65% more expensive than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Santa Cruz is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$7.37 JMD 1,159

2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,964

$63.3 JMD 9,958

0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

$8.95 JMD 1,407

-2.12%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

$4.40 JMD 693

0.91%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.31 JMD 205

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.74 JMD 117

-6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$2.52 JMD 397

1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.17 JMD 498

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

$4.23 JMD 665

2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$3.49 JMD 549

1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$1.58 JMD 248

1.90%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

$3.42 JMD 538

2.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,746

$11.24 JMD 1,768

-1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

$6.55 JMD 1,030

-0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

$7.54 JMD 1,187

3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

$5.96 JMD 938

3.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$3.16 JMD 497

-3.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$4.13 JMD 650

4.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

$2.07 JMD 326

-0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.94 JMD 305

-1.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$2.99 JMD 470

4.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$1.46 JMD 229

-0.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

$9.01 JMD 1,417

-0.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,824

$11.47 JMD 1,804

1.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 450

$2.85 JMD 449

0.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.21 JMD 506

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,845

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.09 JMD 171

-0.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

$6.15 JMD 967

0.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.23 JMD 193

0.81%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-1.95%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-1.28%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$162 JMD 25.4K

1.91%

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

$21.76 JMD 3,423

$22.34 JMD 3,514

-2.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,163

$50.2 JMD 7,897

3.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,434

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

$12.93 JMD 2,034

2.17%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$226 JMD 35.6K

0.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.3K

$2,445 JMD 384.5K

0.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

$26.26 JMD 4,130

0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

$26.02 JMD 4,092

-1.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$71.7 JMD 11.3K

-2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

3.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 139.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 190.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

$405 JMD 63.7K

86.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kingston pays 86% 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 $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Groceries flip the comparison at $353 vs $350, with Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz wins on cost – living expenses run 65% 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.

Kingston pays 86% more on average, 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 1% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,454 per month in Kingston versus $879 in Santa Cruz – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $879 in Santa Cruz versus $1,454 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 65% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.