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: $646 in May Pen versus $875 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $987 in May Pen versus $1,445 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,328 in May Pen versus $2,014 in Green Island.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 26% less than in Green Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Green Island 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 JMD 1,211

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.1 JMD 9,978

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 JMD 1,409

Cappuccino

$4.45 JMD 704

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

$1.37 JMD 217

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 JMD 394

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 499

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 JMD 353

$4.43 JMD 701

-49.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 JMD 608

$3.64 JMD 577

5.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 491

$1.62 JMD 256

91.36%

Eggs

$3.28 JMD 519

$3.44 JMD 544

-4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 JMD 1,764

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 JMD 1,199

$6.45 JMD 1,021

17.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 JMD 788

$7.52 JMD 1,191

-33.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 JMD 245

$6.06 JMD 959

-74.42%

Banana (1kg)

$5.13 JMD 811

$3.05 JMD 482

68.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.27 JMD 993

$4.28 JMD 678

46.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 JMD 294

$2.95 JMD 466

-36.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 JMD 291

$2.03 JMD 321

-9.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 303

$1.95 JMD 308

-2.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.20 JMD 507

$3.06 JMD 485

4.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 438

$1.44 JMD 228

92.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.55 JMD 1,354

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 JMD 1,833

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 342

$2.77 JMD 438

-22.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 515

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 JMD 966

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 JMD 217

$1.25 JMD 197

9.60%

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

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

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

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

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

$164 JMD 26.0K

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

$42.21 JMD 6,681

$22.48 JMD 3,558

87.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 JMD 6,097

$50.2 JMD 7,947

-23.28%

Cinema Ticket

$13.13 JMD 2,078

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

$316 JMD 50.0K

$228 JMD 36.2K

38.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,498 JMD 395.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 JMD 2,523

$25.89 JMD 4,097

-38.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.48 JMD 3,400

$25.22 JMD 3,992

-14.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.08 JMD 6,502

$72.1 JMD 11.4K

-42.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.9 JMD 8,377

$74.7 JMD 11.8K

-29.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$172 JMD 27.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 JMD 34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 JMD 89.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Green Island: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $172 in May Pen and $0 in Green Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $0 in May Pen vs $63 in Green Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $352 per month, with May Pen cheaper across the board.

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 36% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $875 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $968 in May Pen and $1,313 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 $316 in May Pen versus $228 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 $646 per month in May Pen versus $875 in Green Island – a 36% 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 36% less than in Green Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.