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: $1,702 in Kingston versus $1,050 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,853 in Kingston versus $1,982 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,004 in Kingston versus $2,913 in Spanish Town.

Living in Kingston is roughly 62% more expensive than in Spanish Town, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kingston is 23% above, Spanish Town is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.79 JMD 2,481

$16.10 JMD 2,528

-1.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,345

$8.94 JMD 1,404

-4.25%

Cappuccino

$5.40 JMD 848

$5.21 JMD 818

3.65%

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

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.20 JMD 188

3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 109

$0.73 JMD 114

-4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 JMD 348

$2.24 JMD 352

-1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.07 JMD 483

3.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.25 JMD 667

$4.03 JMD 632

5.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

$3.70 JMD 581

-0.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.59 JMD 250

1.89%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.64 JMD 571

-5.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 JMD 1,822

$11.62 JMD 1,825

-0.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 JMD 1,007

$6.31 JMD 990

1.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 JMD 1,596

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 JMD 967

$5.94 JMD 934

3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$4.00 JMD 629

$3.86 JMD 606

3.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$7.36 JMD 1,156

-0.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 467

$3.14 JMD 493

-5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$3.29 JMD 517

-1.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 JMD 424

$2.12 JMD 334

27.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

$3.00 JMD 472

5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 233

$1.50 JMD 236

-0.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.17 JMD 1,440

$9.26 JMD 1,454

-0.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,754

$11.53 JMD 1,812

-3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 442

$2.84 JMD 445

-1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 621

$4.04 JMD 635

-2.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 JMD 193

$1.22 JMD 191

0.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.19 JMD 500

-2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 979

$6.49 JMD 1,019

-4.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 218

$1.35 JMD 212

2.96%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

$44.4K JMD 7.0M

0.31%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

-0.89%

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

$178 JMD 28.0K

$172 JMD 27.1K

3.32%

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

$29.81 JMD 4,682

$29.62 JMD 4,652

0.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.5 JMD 8,241

$52.0 JMD 8,168

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 JMD 2,065

$13.19 JMD 2,072

-0.30%

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

$357 JMD 56.1K

$367 JMD 57.7K

-2.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$8,158 JMD 1.3M

0.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.41 JMD 3,678

$23.87 JMD 3,750

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.32 JMD 4,919

$31.43 JMD 4,938

-0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

$78.1 JMD 12.3K

-1.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$103 JMD 16.2K

-1.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

$630 JMD 99.0K

240.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

$515 JMD 80.9K

177.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 JMD 116.9K

$1,148 JMD 180.3K

-35.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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: $76.0 in Kingston vs $75.0 in Spanish Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $383 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 62% 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 54% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,702 per month in Kingston versus $1,050 in Spanish Town – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,050 in Spanish Town versus $1,702 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 62% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.