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: $1,454 in Kingston versus $838 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kingston versus $1,404 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Kingston versus $1,970 in Spanish Town.

Living in Kingston is roughly 73% more expensive than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 8% above, Spanish Town is 38% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$7.30 JMD 1,149

3.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,962

$61.6 JMD 9,679

2.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,378

$8.52 JMD 1,340

2.82%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.33 JMD 208

-1.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

$0.76 JMD 120

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.18 JMD 500

-3.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 JMD 680

$1.90 JMD 299

127.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$2.58 JMD 405

37.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$0.42 JMD 66.3

283.33%

Eggs

$3.50 JMD 550

$3.22 JMD 507

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,745

$3.14 JMD 494

253.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,022

$1.98 JMD 311

228.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,225

$2.80 JMD 440

178.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.15 JMD 967

$2.21 JMD 347

178.28%

Banana (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$1.85 JMD 291

65.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$1.60 JMD 252

170.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

$1.83 JMD 287

63.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 322

$2.11 JMD 332

-2.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.93 JMD 304

-1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 492

$2.97 JMD 468

5.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$0.92 JMD 144

57.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.00 JMD 1,416

$8.76 JMD 1,377

2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,823

$11.40 JMD 1,793

1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 JMD 449

$1.55 JMD 243

84.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$2.47 JMD 389

24.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,844

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.13 JMD 178

-4.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.24 JMD 509

-2.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 971

$6.33 JMD 995

-2.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.13%

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

1.26%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-1.56%

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$162 JMD 25.5K

1.64%

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

$21.76 JMD 3,422

$21.92 JMD 3,448

-0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.9 JMD 8,162

$50.8 JMD 7,982

2.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,433

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$226 JMD 35.6K

0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,456 JMD 386.2K

$2,483 JMD 390.4K

-1.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

$26.33 JMD 4,141

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.61 JMD 4,028

$25.43 JMD 4,000

0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

-3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 JMD 139.4K

$156 JMD 24.5K

469.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 JMD 70.2K

$123 JMD 19.4K

261.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

$616 JMD 97.0K

223.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 190.8K

$376 JMD 59.1K

222.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 JMD 118.6K

$1,160 JMD 182.5K

-35.03%

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 Spanish Town: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $886 in Kingston and $156 in Spanish Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 54% 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 $193 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 73% 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 54% 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: $886 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 83% 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 $838 in Spanish Town – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $838 in Spanish Town versus $1,454 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 73% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.