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