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 $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,279 in Mandeville versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,794 in Mandeville versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Living in Mandeville costs roughly 48% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mandeville is 43% below, Kingston is 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.17 JMD 974
$7.46 JMD 1,177
-17.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.0 JMD 9,933
$61.7 JMD 9,732
2.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.63 JMD 1,362
$8.58 JMD 1,354
0.58%
Cappuccino
$2.16 JMD 341
$4.39 JMD 693
-50.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 JMD 156
$1.33 JMD 209
-25.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 JMD 113
$0.74 JMD 117
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 JMD 348
$2.43 JMD 384
-9.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 JMD 441
$3.10 JMD 490
-10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.30 JMD 678
$4.33 JMD 683
-0.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 JMD 339
$3.49 JMD 551
-38.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 JMD 255
$1.64 JMD 258
-1.83%
Eggs
$3.47 JMD 547
$3.61 JMD 569
-3.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.22 JMD 1,771
$11.20 JMD 1,767
0.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.46 JMD 1,020
$6.45 JMD 1,018
0.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.83 JMD 1,235
$7.82 JMD 1,233
0.13%
Apples (1kg)
$6.00 JMD 947
$5.99 JMD 946
0.17%
Banana (1kg)
$3.10 JMD 490
$2.98 JMD 470
4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.14 JMD 654
$4.21 JMD 664
-1.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.90 JMD 458
$2.90 JMD 457
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 JMD 329
$2.02 JMD 319
2.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 JMD 320
$2.00 JMD 316
1.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 JMD 472
$3.01 JMD 476
-0.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 JMD 234
$1.51 JMD 238
-1.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.26 JMD 1,303
$8.61 JMD 1,359
-4.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.18 JMD 1,765
$11.47 JMD 1,810
-2.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 JMD 436
$2.78 JMD 438
-0.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 JMD 488
$3.04 JMD 480
1.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.81 JMD 128
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$49.18 JMD 7,760
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 JMD 177
$1.09 JMD 171
2.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.21 JMD 506
$3.22 JMD 507
-0.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 JMD 963
$6.34 JMD 1,000
-3.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 JMD 195
$1.24 JMD 196
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.6K JMD 6.7M
$43.4K JMD 6.9M
-1.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K JMD 5.3M
$34.1K JMD 5.4M
-0.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 JMD 14.7K
$161 JMD 25.4K
-42.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 JMD 3,495
$22.24 JMD 3,509
-0.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.3 JMD 7,943
$52.0 JMD 8,202
-3.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.9 JMD 10.9K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.77 JMD 1,700
$15.91 JMD 2,511
-32.31%
Cinema Ticket
$13.21 JMD 2,085
$13.38 JMD 2,111
-1.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 JMD 35.7K
$222 JMD 35.1K
1.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,532 JMD 399.5K
$2,532 JMD 399.6K
-0.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.32 JMD 4,153
$25.81 JMD 4,073
1.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.02 JMD 4,105
$25.49 JMD 4,022
2.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.6 JMD 11.3K
$70.8 JMD 11.2K
1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 JMD 12.1K
$74.9 JMD 11.8K
1.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$463 JMD 73.0K
$880 JMD 138.8K
-47.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$451 JMD 71.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,007 JMD 316.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,188 JMD 187.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,768 JMD 279.0K
$2,866 JMD 452.2K
-38.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,153 JMD 339.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandeville
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$497 JMD 78.4K
$732 JMD 115.5K
-32.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
9.15
-

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

Last update for Mandeville: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Mandeville and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 47% 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: $63.0 in Mandeville vs $62.0 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $351, 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
Which city is more expensive, Mandeville or Kingston?
Mandeville wins on cost – living expenses run 94% 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.
Are salaries higher in Mandeville or in Kingston?
On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Kingston. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mandeville compared to Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Mandeville versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mandeville or in Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Mandeville compared to Kingston?
All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Mandeville versus $1,482 in Kingston – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mandeville or in Kingston?
At $765 in Mandeville versus $1,482 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mandeville or Kingston?
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.
How safe is Mandeville compared to Kingston?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mandeville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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