Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandeville and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandeville and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Mandeville versus $1,451 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,284 in Mandeville versus $2,475 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,803 in Mandeville versus $3,498 in Kingston.

Living in Mandeville costs roughly 47% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mandeville is 43% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.14 JMD 963

$7.61 JMD 1,192

-19.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 JMD 9,952

$62.0 JMD 9,707

2.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 JMD 1,401

$8.80 JMD 1,379

1.59%

Cappuccino

$2.14 JMD 336

$4.36 JMD 682

-50.92%

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

$0.98 JMD 153

$1.32 JMD 207

-25.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.74 JMD 117

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 JMD 352

$2.57 JMD 403

-12.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 435

$3.20 JMD 501

-13.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.23 JMD 663

$4.36 JMD 684

-2.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 JMD 326

$3.66 JMD 573

-43.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 245

$1.57 JMD 246

Eggs

$3.53 JMD 554

$3.47 JMD 543

1.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.21 JMD 1,757

$11.19 JMD 1,754

0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 JMD 991

$6.42 JMD 1,007

-1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 JMD 1,190

$7.82 JMD 1,225

-2.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 JMD 952

$5.96 JMD 933

2.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 JMD 469

$3.13 JMD 491

-4.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.15 JMD 650

$4.30 JMD 673

-3.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 470

$2.96 JMD 464

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 316

$2.03 JMD 317

-0.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 310

$2.01 JMD 315

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 465

$3.12 JMD 489

-4.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 234

$1.45 JMD 227

2.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 JMD 1,306

$8.89 JMD 1,393

-6.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 JMD 1,819

$11.29 JMD 1,769

2.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 456

$2.90 JMD 454

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 505

$3.20 JMD 502

0.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 170

$1.12 JMD 176

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 JMD 484

$3.15 JMD 494

-1.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.12 JMD 959

$6.19 JMD 971

-1.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 200

$1.28 JMD 201

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

$43.0K JMD 6.7M

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-0.34%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.2M

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-0.79%

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

$93.0 JMD 14.6K

$163 JMD 25.5K

-42.86%

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

$21.59 JMD 3,383

$22.49 JMD 3,523

-4.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 JMD 7,874

$50.7 JMD 7,942

-0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 JMD 1,694

$15.50 JMD 2,428

-30.26%

Cinema Ticket

$12.90 JMD 2,022

$12.92 JMD 2,024

-0.15%

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

$228 JMD 35.6K

$222 JMD 34.8K

2.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,457 JMD 384.9K

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

0.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.55 JMD 4,160

$25.73 JMD 4,032

3.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.78 JMD 4,039

$25.24 JMD 3,955

2.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 JMD 11.1K

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

-2.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

2.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 JMD 73.6K

$880 JMD 137.9K

-46.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,799 JMD 281.9K

$2,863 JMD 448.5K

-37.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 JMD 343.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$511 JMD 80.0K

$732 JMD 114.7K

-30.27%

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 Mandeville: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Mandeville and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Mandeville vs $62.0 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $335 vs $353, with Mandeville 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

Mandeville vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mandeville wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandeville the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Kingston earns 43% 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: $470 in Mandeville versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Mandeville versus $1,451 in Kingston – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $765 in Mandeville versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mandeville but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Mandeville 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.

Safety-wise, Mandeville and Kingston are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mandeville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.