Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Green Island Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Green Island

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in May Pen versus $899 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $993 in May Pen versus $1,446 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,351 in May Pen versus $1,994 in Green Island.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 29% less than in Green Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 53% lower, Green Island 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.68 JMD 1,208

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.8 JMD 9,878

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.72 JMD 1,372

Cappuccino

$4.42 JMD 695

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

$1.31 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 JMD 391

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 504

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 JMD 348

$4.36 JMD 686

-49.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 JMD 584

$3.67 JMD 577

1.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 JMD 496

$1.55 JMD 244

103.23%

Eggs

$3.33 JMD 524

$3.57 JMD 562

-6.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.26 JMD 1,771

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 JMD 1,166

$6.44 JMD 1,013

15.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.04 JMD 792

$7.67 JMD 1,206

-34.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 249

$5.89 JMD 927

-73.17%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 785

$3.09 JMD 486

61.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.20 JMD 975

$4.21 JMD 662

47.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$2.89 JMD 455

-35.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$2.10 JMD 331

-9.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$2.01 JMD 317

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.13 JMD 493

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 JMD 455

$1.45 JMD 228

99.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.83 JMD 1,389

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 JMD 1,784

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 340

$2.78 JMD 437

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 480

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 970

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.29 JMD 203

5.43%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

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

$43.00 JMD 6,763

$22.16 JMD 3,486

94.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.76 JMD 6,254

$49.98 JMD 7,862

-20.45%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 JMD 2,055

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

$318 JMD 50.0K

$224 JMD 35.3K

41.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,478 JMD 389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.93 JMD 2,505

$26.45 JMD 4,160

-39.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.77 JMD 3,425

$25.69 JMD 4,041

-15.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.01 JMD 6,450

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

-41.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 JMD 8,440

$75.3 JMD 11.8K

-28.75%

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 Green Island: 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 Green Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen and Green Island differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($634 vs $899 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $952 in May Pen and $1,348 in Green Island 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 $318 in May Pen versus $224 in Green Island. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $634 per month in May Pen versus $899 in Green Island – 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 Green Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.