Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Montego Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Montego Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $635 in May Pen versus $1,295 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $987 in May Pen versus $1,753 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,340 in May Pen versus $2,210 in Montego Bay.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 51% less than in Montego Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Montego Bay 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,188

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 JMD 7,898

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 JMD 1,215

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

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

$1.32 JMD 209

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 JMD 352

$2.47 JMD 390

-9.72%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 JMD 606

$2.82 JMD 444

36.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 JMD 496

$1.60 JMD 252

96.87%

Eggs

$3.42 JMD 539

$3.46 JMD 544

-1.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,752

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.46 JMD 1,174

$6.46 JMD 1,017

15.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.88 JMD 769

$7.69 JMD 1,211

-36.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 242

$3.35 JMD 528

-54.33%

Banana (1kg)

$5.16 JMD 812

$3.14 JMD 495

64.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.36 JMD 1,002

$2.74 JMD 431

132.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 289

$1.79 JMD 281

2.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 JMD 289

$2.04 JMD 321

-9.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$1.13 JMD 177

69.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 JMD 483

$1.84 JMD 290

66.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 JMD 455

$0.93 JMD 147

210.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 JMD 1,386

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,758

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 JMD 336

$2.12 JMD 334

0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

$0.92 JMD 145

-9.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 152

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 966

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 JMD 215

$1.23 JMD 194

11.38%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

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)

$164 JMD 25.8K

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

$41.82 JMD 6,586

$21.61 JMD 3,404

93.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.20 JMD 6,173

$48.06 JMD 7,569

-18.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 JMD 5,869

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 JMD 1,192

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

$316 JMD 49.8K

$62.7 JMD 9,870

404.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.93 JMD 2,508

$26.57 JMD 4,185

-40.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.61 JMD 3,404

$19.57 JMD 3,083

10.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.16 JMD 6,324

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

-39.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 JMD 8,419

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

-29.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.9K

$265 JMD 41.7K

-32.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 JMD 33.9K

$448 JMD 70.6K

-52.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.7K

$662 JMD 104.3K

-14.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 JMD 69.6K

$447 JMD 70.3K

-1.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 87.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for May Pen: July 28, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in May Pen and $265 in Montego Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 104% lower than in Montego Bay. 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 $952 in May Pen and $1,943 in Montego Bay 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $177 in May Pen versus $265 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $635 per month in May Pen versus $1,295 in Montego Bay – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Montego Bay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 104% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.