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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $634 per month in May Pen vs $880 in Duncans, rent included.

A couple spends around $993 per month in May Pen vs $1,432 in Duncans, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,351 per month in May Pen vs $1,985 in Duncans, rent included.

May Pen is about 28% cheaper than Duncans, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both May Pen and Duncans are more affordable than the global median – May Pen 53% lower, Duncans 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 JMD 1,189

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 JMD 9,945

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 JMD 1,349

Cappuccino

$4.32 JMD 680

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

$1.30 JMD 205

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 498

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 JMD 348

$4.34 JMD 683

-49.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 JMD 584

$3.48 JMD 547

6.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 JMD 496

$1.63 JMD 257

93.25%

Eggs

$3.33 JMD 524

$3.59 JMD 564

-7.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,748

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 JMD 1,166

$6.52 JMD 1,025

13.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.04 JMD 792

$7.49 JMD 1,177

-32.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 249

$6.09 JMD 959

-74.06%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 785

$3.14 JMD 494

58.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.20 JMD 975

$4.18 JMD 657

48.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$3.04 JMD 478

-39.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$2.04 JMD 321

-6.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$1.94 JMD 305

-1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 488

$2.99 JMD 470

3.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 JMD 455

$1.49 JMD 234

93.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.66 JMD 1,362

Wine (Bottle)

$11.33 JMD 1,783

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 340

$2.87 JMD 451

-24.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 498

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 JMD 486

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.44 JMD 1,013

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.29 JMD 203

5.43%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

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

$43.00 JMD 6,763

$22.31 JMD 3,509

92.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.76 JMD 6,254

$50.5 JMD 7,942

-21.25%

Cinema Ticket

$12.92 JMD 2,032

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

$318 JMD 50.0K

$225 JMD 35.4K

41.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,464 JMD 387.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.93 JMD 2,505

$26.26 JMD 4,130

-39.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.77 JMD 3,425

$25.90 JMD 4,074

-15.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.01 JMD 6,450

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

-42.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 JMD 8,440

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

-28.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 JMD 90.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 JMD 68.2K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Duncans: June 9, 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 Duncans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Duncans is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $952 per month in May Pen and $1,319 in Duncans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Duncans, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $318 per month in May Pen and $225 in Duncans. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $634 in May Pen and $880 in Duncans, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward May Pen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with May Pen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duncans makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.