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: $632 in May Pen versus $1,287 in Montego Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $986 in May Pen versus $1,759 in Montego Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,339 in May Pen versus $2,231 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 53% lower, Montego Bay 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,208

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 JMD 7,988

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

Cappuccino

$4.38 JMD 688

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

$1.37 JMD 216

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 389

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 JMD 348

$2.52 JMD 396

-11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 JMD 577

$2.68 JMD 421

36.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 485

$1.57 JMD 246

96.82%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.60 JMD 565

-4.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 JMD 1,732

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,184

$6.43 JMD 1,010

17.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 JMD 796

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-34.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 241

$3.37 JMD 529

-54.30%

Banana (1kg)

$5.03 JMD 791

$3.09 JMD 486

62.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,010

$2.84 JMD 445

126.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$1.76 JMD 277

8.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 291

$2.12 JMD 333

-12.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 301

$1.13 JMD 177

69.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 JMD 499

$1.91 JMD 300

66.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 448

$0.93 JMD 146

206.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 JMD 1,352

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,800

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 JMD 341

$2.11 JMD 331

2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

$0.93 JMD 146

-12.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 JMD 146

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 505

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 JMD 1,001

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 211

$1.24 JMD 195

8.87%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.6M

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

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

$42.07 JMD 6,608

$21.26 JMD 3,339

97.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.96 JMD 6,119

$47.70 JMD 7,491

-18.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 JMD 5,866

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 JMD 1,185

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

$310 JMD 48.7K

$62.6 JMD 9,827

395.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,882 JMD 295.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.62 JMD 2,453

$26.12 JMD 4,102

-40.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.03 JMD 3,460

$20.10 JMD 3,157

9.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.34 JMD 6,335

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

-39.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 JMD 8,445

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

-29.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$176 JMD 27.7K

$257 JMD 40.3K

-31.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 JMD 34.5K

$461 JMD 72.4K

-52.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 JMD 87.5K

$669 JMD 105.0K

-16.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 JMD 69.8K

$431 JMD 67.7K

3.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 JMD 88.3K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $176 in May Pen and $257 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 $948 in May Pen and $1,931 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: $176 in May Pen versus $257 in Montego Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $632 per month in May Pen versus $1,287 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.