Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Spanish Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Spanish Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,471 in Kingston versus $861 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,446 in Kingston versus $1,433 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,420 in Kingston versus $2,005 in Spanish Town.

Living in Kingston is roughly 71% more expensive than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 10% above, Spanish Town is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,150

$7.35 JMD 1,158

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.8 JMD 9,889

$62.3 JMD 9,809

0.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 JMD 1,416

$8.78 JMD 1,383

2.39%

Cappuccino

$4.36 JMD 686

$4.47 JMD 704

-2.46%

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

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.30 JMD 205

4.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 JMD 388

$2.57 JMD 406

-3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 503

$3.11 JMD 490

2.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.41 JMD 695

$1.85 JMD 291

138.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 JMD 565

$2.67 JMD 421

34.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$0.45 JMD 71.1

257.78%

Eggs

$3.55 JMD 559

$3.22 JMD 507

10.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.14 JMD 1,754

$3.19 JMD 503

249.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,016

$1.99 JMD 314

224.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,188

$2.79 JMD 439

170.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 968

$2.24 JMD 353

174.55%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 JMD 477

$1.87 JMD 294

62.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 652

$1.53 JMD 242

170.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 466

$1.94 JMD 305

52.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 331

$2.12 JMD 333

-0.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.99 JMD 314

-4.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.02 JMD 476

1.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$0.91 JMD 144

59.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 JMD 1,371

$8.91 JMD 1,404

-2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.41 JMD 1,796

$11.36 JMD 1,789

0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 458

$1.54 JMD 242

88.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 483

$2.47 JMD 388

24.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 138

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.34 JMD 7,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 JMD 177

$1.11 JMD 175

1.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

$3.27 JMD 514

-0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 JMD 957

$6.28 JMD 988

-3.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.28 JMD 202

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

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

1.61%

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

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-2.18%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$161 JMD 25.3K

1.11%

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

$22.50 JMD 3,543

$22.23 JMD 3,501

1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,051

$50.1 JMD 7,882

2.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.8 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 JMD 2,438

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 JMD 2,068

$13.11 JMD 2,064

0.15%

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

$228 JMD 36.0K

$225 JMD 35.4K

1.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,527 JMD 398.0K

$2,457 JMD 386.9K

2.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.50 JMD 4,174

$25.73 JMD 4,052

2.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 JMD 4,073

$25.06 JMD 3,947

3.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 JMD 11.3K

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

-0.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 JMD 138.1K

$156 JMD 24.5K

462.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 JMD 70.7K

$128 JMD 20.1K

251.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,018 JMD 317.8K

$638 JMD 100.5K

216.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 JMD 191.0K

$373 JMD 58.8K

224.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,865 JMD 451.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 JMD 347.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$734 JMD 115.6K

$1,166 JMD 183.7K

-37.09%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $877 in Kingston and $156 in Spanish Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Kingston vs $62.0 in Spanish Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $195 per month, with Spanish Town 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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Spanish Town wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Spanish Town the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Spanish Town earns 59% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $877 in Kingston versus $156 in Spanish Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,471 per month in Kingston versus $861 in Spanish Town – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Spanish Town versus $1,471 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Spanish Town but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Spanish Town 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 Spanish Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.