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: $1,459 in Kingston versus $859 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,444 in Kingston versus $1,446 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,429 in Kingston versus $2,032 in Spanish Town.

Living in Kingston is roughly 70% more expensive than in Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.57 JMD 1,191

$7.69 JMD 1,210

-1.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 JMD 9,935

$62.6 JMD 9,846

0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 JMD 1,408

$8.56 JMD 1,347

4.56%

Cappuccino

$4.46 JMD 702

$4.40 JMD 692

1.36%

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

$1.37 JMD 215

$1.31 JMD 206

4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.70 JMD 110

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

$2.43 JMD 382

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 JMD 494

$3.11 JMD 488

0.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.18 JMD 658

$1.92 JMD 301

117.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 JMD 557

$2.57 JMD 404

37.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 243

$0.43 JMD 67.2

258.14%

Eggs

$3.52 JMD 554

$3.04 JMD 479

15.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 JMD 1,736

$3.10 JMD 487

256.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,019

$1.91 JMD 300

239.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 JMD 1,228

$2.74 JMD 431

185.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.95 JMD 936

$2.18 JMD 343

172.94%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 494

$1.89 JMD 298

66.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 JMD 681

$1.53 JMD 241

183.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 JMD 459

$1.83 JMD 288

59.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 328

$2.12 JMD 333

-1.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 318

$1.94 JMD 305

4.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 467

$2.99 JMD 471

-0.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$0.90 JMD 142

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.72 JMD 1,371

$8.65 JMD 1,361

0.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,776

$11.61 JMD 1,825

-2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$1.55 JMD 244

79.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

$2.48 JMD 389

27.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 JMD 129

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.33 JMD 7,760

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

$1.08 JMD 169

-0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 JMD 503

$3.15 JMD 495

1.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 JMD 1,005

$6.35 JMD 999

0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.22 JMD 193

0.82%

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

-0.76%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

3.43%

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

$166 JMD 26.2K

-1.65%

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

$21.77 JMD 3,424

$22.08 JMD 3,473

-1.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 JMD 8,132

$51.1 JMD 8,033

1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.93 JMD 2,506

Cinema Ticket

$13.03 JMD 2,049

$12.93 JMD 2,034

0.77%

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

$223 JMD 35.0K

$230 JMD 36.2K

-3.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 395.1K

$2,516 JMD 395.8K

-0.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.87 JMD 4,069

$26.46 JMD 4,161

-2.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.40 JMD 3,996

$25.26 JMD 3,973

0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

-2.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

-0.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 JMD 143.0K

$159 JMD 25.0K

470.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 JMD 72.8K

$123 JMD 19.3K

276.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,028 JMD 319.0K

$633 JMD 99.6K

220.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 JMD 184.6K

$380 JMD 59.8K

208.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 JMD 437.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,164 JMD 340.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 JMD 115.3K

$1,183 JMD 186.0K

-38.02%

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 26, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $909 in Kingston and $159 in Spanish Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 61% 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 $63.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries flip the comparison at $349 vs $192, with Spanish Town 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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Spanish Town wins on cost – living expenses run 70% 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, salaries run 61% lower in Spanish Town. 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: $909 in Kingston versus $159 in Spanish Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,459 per month in Kingston versus $859 in Spanish Town – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $859 in Spanish Town versus $1,459 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 70% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.