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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in May Pen versus $859 in Negril.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $993 in May Pen versus $1,358 in Negril.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,351 in May Pen versus $1,856 in Negril.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 53% lower, Negril 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 JMD 1,173

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 JMD 7,882

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

Cappuccino

$2.06 JMD 323

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

$1.32 JMD 208

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 JMD 389

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 487

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 JMD 348

$4.21 JMD 662

-47.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 JMD 584

$3.49 JMD 549

6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 JMD 496

$1.57 JMD 248

100.64%

Eggs

$3.33 JMD 524

$3.41 JMD 536

-2.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 JMD 1,707

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 JMD 1,166

$6.29 JMD 989

17.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.04 JMD 792

$7.67 JMD 1,206

-34.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 249

$5.99 JMD 942

-73.62%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 785

$3.03 JMD 476

64.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.20 JMD 975

$4.29 JMD 675

44.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$2.93 JMD 461

-36.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$2.08 JMD 327

-8.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$1.95 JMD 307

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.07 JMD 484

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 JMD 455

$1.49 JMD 234

93.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 JMD 1,420

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 340

$2.79 JMD 439

-22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 504

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 JMD 967

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.28 JMD 201

6.25%

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

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

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)

$164 JMD 25.8K

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

$43.00 JMD 6,763

$22.38 JMD 3,520

92.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.76 JMD 6,254

$51.6 JMD 8,121

-22.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.20 JMD 2,076

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

$318 JMD 50.0K

$230 JMD 36.2K

38.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,528 JMD 397.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.93 JMD 2,505

$26.42 JMD 4,156

-39.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.77 JMD 3,425

$25.97 JMD 4,085

-16.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.01 JMD 6,450

$70.8 JMD 11.1K

-42.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 JMD 8,440

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

-30.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

$984 JMD 154.7K

-82.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 JMD 90.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Negril: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in May Pen and $984 in Negril. 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 Negril: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Negril. 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 $1,289 in Negril 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 $984 in Negril. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $634 per month in May Pen versus $859 in Negril – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $634 in May Pen versus $859 in Negril, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Negril. 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 35% less than in Negril. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.