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: $1,461 in Kingston versus $878 in Santa Cruz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Kingston versus $1,429 in Santa Cruz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,432 in Kingston versus $1,981 in Santa Cruz.

Living in Kingston is roughly 66% 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

$7.37 JMD 1,167

$7.66 JMD 1,213

-3.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.9 JMD 9,795

$62.0 JMD 9,819

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 JMD 1,407

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 695

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

$1.38 JMD 218

$1.31 JMD 207

5.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$0.76 JMD 120

-6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 387

$2.56 JMD 405

-4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 500

$3.15 JMD 498

0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.33 JMD 686

$4.44 JMD 703

-2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 579

$3.62 JMD 573

1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 249

$1.55 JMD 246

1.29%

Eggs

$3.43 JMD 543

$3.48 JMD 550

-1.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 JMD 1,717

$10.91 JMD 1,727

-0.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 JMD 1,033

$6.50 JMD 1,029

0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.43 JMD 1,177

$7.69 JMD 1,216

-3.38%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 JMD 965

$5.99 JMD 948

1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 488

$3.15 JMD 499

-2.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 653

$4.31 JMD 682

-4.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 JMD 462

$2.96 JMD 468

-1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 319

$2.10 JMD 332

-4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 314

$2.02 JMD 320

-1.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 473

$3.09 JMD 490

-3.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 JMD 230

$1.50 JMD 237

-2.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,367

$8.68 JMD 1,374

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 JMD 1,790

$11.38 JMD 1,801

-0.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 453

$2.88 JMD 455

-0.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 JMD 508

$3.22 JMD 510

-0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 137

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.18 JMD 7,626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 178

$1.12 JMD 177

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 514

$3.27 JMD 517

-0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 JMD 1,018

$6.12 JMD 968

5.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 JMD 194

$1.23 JMD 194

-0.81%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

-0.18%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

-0.11%

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

$160 JMD 25.4K

$161 JMD 25.5K

-0.45%

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

$21.77 JMD 3,445

$21.96 JMD 3,476

-0.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,096

$51.8 JMD 8,200

-1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 JMD 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$12.94 JMD 2,049

$12.91 JMD 2,043

0.23%

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

$230 JMD 36.5K

$225 JMD 35.6K

2.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,450 JMD 387.7K

$2,521 JMD 398.9K

-2.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.54 JMD 4,200

$26.24 JMD 4,153

1.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.83 JMD 4,087

$25.28 JMD 4,001

2.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

$70.6 JMD 11.2K

2.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 140.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 JMD 71.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 319.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 188.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,809 JMD 444.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,237 JMD 354.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$750 JMD 118.7K

$401 JMD 63.4K

87.17%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $886 in Kingston and $0 in Santa Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 87% 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 in Kingston vs $62 in Santa Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $354 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 66% 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 87% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Kingston pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,461 per month in Kingston versus $878 in Santa Cruz – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $878 in Santa Cruz versus $1,461 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 66% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.