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: $713 in May Pen versus $1,016 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $818 in May Pen versus $1,684 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $924 in May Pen versus $2,352 in Alexandria.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 30% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 48% lower, Alexandria 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.90 JMD 2,505

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.4 JMD 12.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 JMD 1,413

Cappuccino

$5.45 JMD 858

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

$1.19 JMD 187

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 108

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 339

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 483

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 JMD 346

$4.23 JMD 667

-47.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 JMD 610

$3.82 JMD 602

1.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$1.62 JMD 256

100.62%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 545

$3.51 JMD 554

-1.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.28 JMD 1,778

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,228

$6.22 JMD 980

25.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 JMD 817

$10.42 JMD 1,642

-50.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 243

$5.92 JMD 933

-73.99%

Banana (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 804

$3.95 JMD 622

29.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.30 JMD 993

$7.47 JMD 1,178

-15.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$2.99 JMD 471

-38.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 294

$3.23 JMD 509

-42.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.68 JMD 422

-27.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.23 JMD 509

$3.03 JMD 477

6.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$1.46 JMD 231

90.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.36 JMD 1,475

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 JMD 1,819

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 JMD 358

$2.81 JMD 443

-19.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 JMD 639

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 JMD 184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 508

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.20 JMD 978

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 JMD 217

$1.39 JMD 220

-0.72%

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

$44.4K JMD 7.0M

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

$32.3K JMD 5.1M

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

$173 JMD 27.2K

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

$43.22 JMD 6,811

$30.02 JMD 4,731

43.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 JMD 8,625

$53.5 JMD 8,434

2.26%

Cinema Ticket

$13.41 JMD 2,114

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

$366 JMD 57.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,169 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 JMD 2,512

$23.84 JMD 3,756

-33.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.70 JMD 3,420

$31.50 JMD 4,964

-31.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.25 JMD 6,500

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

-46.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.2 JMD 8,537

$103 JMD 16.2K

-47.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.8K

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 May Pen: August 30, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: August 31, 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 42% in total monthly costs ($713 vs $1,016 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,070 in May Pen and $1,525 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Alexandria. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $713 per month in May Pen versus $1,016 in Alexandria – a 42% 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 42% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.