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 $894 in Green Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in May Pen versus $1,450 in Green Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,364 in May Pen versus $2,006 in Green Island.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 28% less than in Green Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Green Island 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 JMD 1,174

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 JMD 10.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 JMD 1,367

Cappuccino

$4.40 JMD 694

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

$1.36 JMD 214

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 384

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 487

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 JMD 335

$4.29 JMD 676

-50.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 577

$3.63 JMD 572

0.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 JMD 499

$1.63 JMD 257

94.48%

Eggs

$3.29 JMD 517

$3.58 JMD 564

-8.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 JMD 1,752

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.59 JMD 1,195

$6.18 JMD 973

22.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 JMD 769

$7.47 JMD 1,176

-34.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 JMD 244

$5.88 JMD 925

-73.64%

Banana (1kg)

$5.15 JMD 811

$3.05 JMD 480

68.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.24 JMD 983

$4.27 JMD 673

46.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 303

$2.93 JMD 461

-34.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 JMD 289

$2.01 JMD 317

-8.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$2.02 JMD 317

-4.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.01 JMD 474

5.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 JMD 440

$1.48 JMD 233

88.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.58 JMD 1,351

Wine (Bottle)

$11.54 JMD 1,818

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 JMD 350

$2.78 JMD 438

-20.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 506

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 JMD 132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.34 JMD 999

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 215

$1.23 JMD 193

10.57%

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

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

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

$42.30 JMD 6,661

$22.27 JMD 3,506

89.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.33 JMD 6,194

$51.6 JMD 8,123

-23.75%

Cinema Ticket

$13.28 JMD 2,091

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

$316 JMD 49.7K

$226 JMD 35.6K

39.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,522 JMD 397.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.55 JMD 2,448

$25.71 JMD 4,048

-39.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.02 JMD 3,467

$25.41 JMD 4,001

-13.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.24 JMD 6,336

$71.3 JMD 11.2K

-43.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.4 JMD 8,416

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

-29.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 JMD 27.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 JMD 34.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 JMD 89.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.4K

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Green Island: July 19, 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 38% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $894 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $970 in May Pen and $1,341 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 $226 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 $894 in Green Island – a 38% 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 38% less than in Green Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.