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: $730 in May Pen versus $1,030 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in May Pen versus $1,692 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $903 in May Pen versus $2,353 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 47% lower, Green Island 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.56 JMD 2,444

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 JMD 11.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.92 JMD 1,401

Cappuccino

$5.43 JMD 852

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

$1.24 JMD 195

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 337

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 JMD 342

$4.06 JMD 638

-46.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 JMD 609

$3.80 JMD 596

2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 492

$1.65 JMD 259

89.70%

Eggs

$3.51 JMD 551

$3.50 JMD 549

0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 JMD 1,764

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 JMD 1,220

$6.34 JMD 996

22.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.90 JMD 770

$10.14 JMD 1,594

-51.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 254

$6.09 JMD 957

-73.40%

Banana (1kg)

$4.93 JMD 774

$4.01 JMD 629

22.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,009

$7.45 JMD 1,170

-13.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 293

$3.00 JMD 471

-37.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 307

$3.24 JMD 508

-39.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 301

$2.63 JMD 414

-27.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.14 JMD 493

1.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 457

$1.52 JMD 239

91.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.61 JMD 1,509

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,800

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 JMD 342

$2.84 JMD 447

-23.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 JMD 633

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 JMD 191

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 JMD 508

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 JMD 223

$1.40 JMD 220

1.43%

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

$45.0K JMD 7.1M

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)

$173 JMD 27.2K

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

$42.36 JMD 6,654

$29.14 JMD 4,578

45.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 JMD 8,594

$54.0 JMD 8,474

1.41%

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 JMD 2,116

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

$358 JMD 56.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,105 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.77 JMD 2,477

$23.80 JMD 3,739

-33.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 JMD 3,527

$31.78 JMD 4,991

-29.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.39 JMD 6,502

$77.3 JMD 12.1K

-46.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 JMD 8,432

$104 JMD 16.4K

-48.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 JMD 45.2K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Green Island: September 6, 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 41% in total monthly costs ($730 vs $1,030 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,096 in May Pen and $1,545 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.

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

All in, you'll spend $730 per month in May Pen versus $1,030 in Green Island – a 41% 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 41% less than in Green Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.