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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $713 in May Pen versus $1,684 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $818 in May Pen versus $2,889 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $924 in May Pen versus $4,093 in Kingston.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 58% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: May Pen is 48% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.95 JMD 2,513

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 JMD 11.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 JMD 1,388

Cappuccino

$5.22 JMD 823

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

$1.19 JMD 188

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 JMD 345

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 486

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 JMD 346

$4.06 JMD 639

-45.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.87 JMD 610

$3.74 JMD 589

3.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 JMD 511

$1.66 JMD 261

95.78%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 545

$3.61 JMD 570

-4.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.58 JMD 1,826

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 JMD 1,228

$6.19 JMD 975

25.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 JMD 817

$10.12 JMD 1,595

-48.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 243

$6.12 JMD 964

-74.84%

Banana (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 804

$3.99 JMD 629

27.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.30 JMD 993

$7.48 JMD 1,179

-15.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$3.11 JMD 491

-40.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 294

$3.23 JMD 510

-42.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.64 JMD 416

-26.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.23 JMD 509

$3.01 JMD 474

7.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

$1.46 JMD 231

90.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.74 JMD 1,534

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 JMD 1,785

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 JMD 358

$2.78 JMD 439

-18.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 JMD 625

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 128

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.60 JMD 6,082

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 JMD 193

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 496

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 JMD 970

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 JMD 217

$1.36 JMD 215

1.47%

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

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

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

$32.4K JMD 5.1M

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

$172 JMD 27.1K

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

$43.22 JMD 6,811

$29.66 JMD 4,675

45.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 JMD 8,625

$52.5 JMD 8,278

4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 JMD 9,862

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.94 JMD 2,827

Cinema Ticket

$13.35 JMD 2,103

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

$367 JMD 57.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,302 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 JMD 2,512

$23.88 JMD 3,764

-33.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.70 JMD 3,420

$31.86 JMD 5,020

-31.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.25 JMD 6,500

$79.2 JMD 12.5K

-47.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.2 JMD 8,537

$102 JMD 16.1K

-46.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$972 JMD 153.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.8K

$563 JMD 88.7K

-49.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,117 JMD 333.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 JMD 226.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,902 JMD 457.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,054 JMD 323.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$757 JMD 119.3K

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kingston: August 29, 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 136% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making May Pen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,070 in May Pen and $2,526 in Kingston 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 36% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $713 per month in May Pen versus $1,684 in Kingston – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $713 in May Pen versus $1,684 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 136% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.