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: $810 in Mandeville versus $1,702 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,410 in Mandeville versus $2,853 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mandeville versus $4,004 in Kingston.

Living in Mandeville costs roughly 52% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mandeville is 41% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.21 JMD 975

$15.79 JMD 2,481

-60.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 JMD 11.6K

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

-2.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 JMD 1,404

$8.56 JMD 1,345

4.44%

Cappuccino

$2.20 JMD 345

$5.40 JMD 848

-59.26%

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

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.24 JMD 195

-12.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 116

$0.70 JMD 109

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 338

$2.21 JMD 348

-2.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 457

$3.18 JMD 500

-8.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.12 JMD 648

$4.25 JMD 667

-3.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 JMD 293

$3.68 JMD 578

-49.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 251

$1.62 JMD 255

-1.23%

Eggs

$3.62 JMD 569

$3.44 JMD 540

5.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 JMD 1,775

$11.60 JMD 1,822

-2.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,020

$6.41 JMD 1,007

1.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 JMD 1,623

$10.16 JMD 1,596

1.67%

Apples (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 982

$6.16 JMD 967

1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$3.86 JMD 607

$4.00 JMD 629

-3.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.40 JMD 1,163

$7.30 JMD 1,147

1.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 493

$2.97 JMD 467

5.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 JMD 512

$3.25 JMD 511

0.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 JMD 422

$2.70 JMD 424

-0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.11 JMD 489

$3.15 JMD 495

-1.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 JMD 239

$1.49 JMD 233

2.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.13 JMD 1,276

$9.17 JMD 1,440

-11.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 JMD 1,783

$11.16 JMD 1,754

1.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 448

$2.81 JMD 442

1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 JMD 646

$3.95 JMD 621

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 JMD 187

$1.23 JMD 193

-3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 491

$3.10 JMD 486

0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 977

$6.23 JMD 979

-0.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 212

$1.39 JMD 218

-2.88%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

-2.64%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

1.11%

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

$94.0 JMD 14.8K

$178 JMD 28.0K

-47.18%

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

$21.95 JMD 3,448

$29.81 JMD 4,682

-26.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 JMD 7,964

$52.5 JMD 8,241

-3.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.94 JMD 1,719

$17.79 JMD 2,794

-38.50%

Cinema Ticket

$13.03 JMD 2,047

$13.15 JMD 2,065

-0.91%

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

$369 JMD 58.0K

$357 JMD 56.1K

3.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,155 JMD 1.3M

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

-0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.13 JMD 3,791

$23.41 JMD 3,678

3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.52 JMD 4,952

$31.32 JMD 4,919

0.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.3K

$102 JMD 16.0K

1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 JMD 73.3K

$955 JMD 150.1K

-51.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,779 JMD 279.4K

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

-38.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$497 JMD 78.1K

$744 JMD 116.9K

-33.21%

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 Mandeville: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Mandeville and $955 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 50% 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: $74.0 in Mandeville vs $76.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $386 per month, with Mandeville 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

Mandeville vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mandeville wins on cost – living expenses run 110% 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, salaries run 50% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $466 in Mandeville versus $955 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $810 per month in Mandeville versus $1,702 in Kingston – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $810 in Mandeville versus $1,702 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 110% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.