Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Alexandria Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Alexandria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in May Pen versus $894 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in May Pen versus $1,431 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,366 in May Pen versus $1,967 in Alexandria.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 28% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Alexandria 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.64 JMD 1,206

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 JMD 10.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.82 JMD 1,392

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 679

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

$1.30 JMD 206

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 497

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 JMD 337

$4.20 JMD 663

-49.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 JMD 606

$3.63 JMD 573

5.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 486

$1.62 JMD 255

90.12%

Eggs

$3.32 JMD 524

$3.57 JMD 563

-7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 JMD 1,756

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 JMD 1,171

$6.31 JMD 995

17.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 805

$7.49 JMD 1,182

-31.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$6.16 JMD 972

-73.86%

Banana (1kg)

$4.98 JMD 785

$3.09 JMD 488

61.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,014

$4.27 JMD 674

50.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.95 JMD 465

-34.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 305

$2.10 JMD 332

-8.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$1.93 JMD 305

-5.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.00 JMD 474

2.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 448

$1.45 JMD 229

95.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.85 JMD 1,396

Wine (Bottle)

$11.40 JMD 1,799

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 JMD 356

$2.81 JMD 443

-19.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 505

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 507

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 JMD 963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 220

$1.23 JMD 194

13.01%

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

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

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

$162 JMD 25.5K

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

$42.49 JMD 6,705

$21.86 JMD 3,449

94.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.56 JMD 6,085

$50.5 JMD 7,960

-23.57%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,084

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

$313 JMD 49.4K

$227 JMD 35.9K

37.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,437 JMD 384.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.48 JMD 2,443

$25.71 JMD 4,057

-39.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.50 JMD 3,393

$26.05 JMD 4,111

-17.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.10 JMD 6,327

$72.1 JMD 11.4K

-44.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 JMD 8,448

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

-29.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 JMD 28.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 JMD 88.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 JMD 68.1K

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 May Pen: July 11, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: July 14, 2026

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

May Pen vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen and Alexandria differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $894 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $970 in May Pen and $1,342 in Alexandria 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.

Childcare runs $313 in May Pen versus $227 in Alexandria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $646 per month in May Pen versus $894 in Alexandria – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though May Pen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.