Cost of Living Comparison Between Lucea and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Lucea and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Lucea versus $1,461 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,451 in Lucea versus $2,447 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,020 in Lucea versus $3,432 in Kingston.

Living in Lucea costs roughly 40% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lucea is 34% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 JMD 1,207

$7.37 JMD 1,167

3.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.8 JMD 9,778

$61.9 JMD 9,795

-0.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,355

$8.89 JMD 1,407

-3.71%

Cappuccino

$4.28 JMD 678

$4.39 JMD 695

-2.51%

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

$1.37 JMD 217

$1.38 JMD 218

-0.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 111

$0.71 JMD 112

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 JMD 399

$2.44 JMD 387

3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 485

$3.16 JMD 500

-2.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.43 JMD 702

$4.33 JMD 686

2.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 JMD 551

$3.66 JMD 579

-4.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 249

Eggs

$3.43 JMD 542

$3.43 JMD 543

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 JMD 1,781

$10.85 JMD 1,717

3.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 JMD 1,027

$6.53 JMD 1,033

-0.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 JMD 1,191

$7.43 JMD 1,177

1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 943

$6.10 JMD 965

-2.30%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 491

$3.08 JMD 488

0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 653

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 482

$2.92 JMD 462

4.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 319

$2.01 JMD 319

0.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 305

$1.98 JMD 314

-2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 JMD 488

$2.99 JMD 473

3.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 JMD 226

$1.46 JMD 230

-2.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.01 JMD 1,426

$8.64 JMD 1,367

4.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 JMD 1,821

$11.31 JMD 1,790

1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 458

$2.86 JMD 453

1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 509

$3.21 JMD 508

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)

$1.09 JMD 172

$1.12 JMD 178

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 499

$3.25 JMD 514

-3.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 980

$6.43 JMD 1,018

-3.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$1.22 JMD 194

1.64%

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

$42.9K JMD 6.8M

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

-1.12%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

1.45%

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

$166 JMD 26.3K

$160 JMD 25.4K

3.61%

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

$21.82 JMD 3,453

$21.77 JMD 3,445

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 JMD 8,139

$51.2 JMD 8,096

0.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 JMD 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$12.99 JMD 2,056

$12.94 JMD 2,049

0.39%

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

$225 JMD 35.7K

$230 JMD 36.5K

-2.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,461 JMD 389.6K

$2,450 JMD 387.7K

0.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.31 JMD 4,164

$26.54 JMD 4,200

-0.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.70 JMD 4,068

$25.83 JMD 4,087

-0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 JMD 11.4K

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

-0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 JMD 12.0K

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

-1.50%

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

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 Lucea: April 12, 2026

Last update for Kingston: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $62 in Lucea vs $62 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $350, with Kingston 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

Lucea vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lucea wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lucea the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,324 in Lucea and $2,192 in Kingston to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Kingston pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $883 per month in Lucea versus $1,461 in Kingston – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $883 in Lucea versus $1,461 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lucea but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Lucea 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 Lucea 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.