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: $1,468 in Kingston versus $868 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,461 in Kingston versus $1,448 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,454 in Kingston versus $2,027 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Kingston is roughly 69% more expensive than in Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Santa Cruz is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.60 JMD 1,197

$7.44 JMD 1,172

2.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,701

$63.3 JMD 9,961

-2.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$8.76 JMD 1,379

-2.28%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.35 JMD 685

-0.92%

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

$1.32 JMD 208

$1.35 JMD 213

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.71 JMD 112

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.44 JMD 384

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

$3.16 JMD 498

-2.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.38 JMD 690

$4.44 JMD 699

-1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 JMD 574

$3.61 JMD 569

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$1.58 JMD 248

-1.27%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 545

$3.58 JMD 564

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 JMD 1,736

$10.92 JMD 1,719

0.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$6.53 JMD 1,029

-1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,189

$7.57 JMD 1,192

-0.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.86 JMD 923

$5.93 JMD 934

-1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.01 JMD 474

2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 652

$4.14 JMD 653

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 479

$3.01 JMD 475

1.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 330

$2.09 JMD 330

0.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$1.99 JMD 314

-3.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 JMD 482

$2.97 JMD 468

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 233

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 JMD 1,407

$8.88 JMD 1,398

0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.39 JMD 1,793

$11.15 JMD 1,756

2.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.87 JMD 452

-2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.10 JMD 488

2.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.50 JMD 7,638

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 513

$3.09 JMD 487

5.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

$6.36 JMD 1,001

-2.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

-1.81%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-1.14%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$161 JMD 25.4K

2.15%

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

$22.23 JMD 3,501

$21.95 JMD 3,457

1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,057

$51.8 JMD 8,162

-1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 JMD 2,449

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 JMD 2,074

$13.26 JMD 2,087

-0.68%

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

$229 JMD 36.1K

$227 JMD 35.7K

1.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,465 JMD 388.2K

$2,505 JMD 394.4K

-1.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 JMD 4,057

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.21 JMD 3,970

$25.96 JMD 4,087

-2.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

-0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$76.2 JMD 12.0K

-1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 JMD 138.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 JMD 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,815 JMD 443.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,200 JMD 346.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.7K

$401 JMD 63.1K

88.16%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kingston pays 88% 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: $62.0 in Kingston vs $63.0 in Santa Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $351 per month, with Kingston 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 69% 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 88% 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 0% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,468 per month in Kingston versus $868 in Santa Cruz – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $868 in Santa Cruz versus $1,468 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 69% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.