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: $730 in May Pen versus $948 in Negril.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in May Pen versus $1,482 in Negril.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $903 in May Pen versus $2,016 in Negril.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 23% less than in Negril, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 47% lower, Negril 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 JMD 1,476

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 JMD 7,981

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 JMD 1,403

Cappuccino

$2.05 JMD 322

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

$1.24 JMD 195

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 JMD 115

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 JMD 354

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 JMD 342

$4.22 JMD 663

-48.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 JMD 609

$3.57 JMD 561

8.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 JMD 492

$1.62 JMD 255

93.21%

Eggs

$3.51 JMD 551

$3.60 JMD 565

-2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 JMD 1,777

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 JMD 1,220

$6.19 JMD 972

25.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.90 JMD 770

$10.20 JMD 1,602

-51.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 254

$6.22 JMD 977

-73.95%

Banana (1kg)

$4.93 JMD 774

$4.01 JMD 629

22.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.42 JMD 1,009

$7.55 JMD 1,186

-14.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 293

$2.97 JMD 466

-37.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 307

$3.31 JMD 519

-41.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 301

$2.67 JMD 419

-28.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.00 JMD 471

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 JMD 457

$1.45 JMD 228

100.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.53 JMD 1,497

Wine (Bottle)

$11.53 JMD 1,812

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 JMD 342

$2.85 JMD 447

-23.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 JMD 626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 JMD 191

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 511

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 970

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 JMD 223

$1.40 JMD 219

1.43%

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

$44.1K JMD 6.9M

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

$32.7K JMD 5.1M

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

$175 JMD 27.5K

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

$42.36 JMD 6,654

$29.72 JMD 4,669

42.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 JMD 8,594

$53.8 JMD 8,448

1.73%

Cinema Ticket

$13.46 JMD 2,114

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

$367 JMD 57.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,347 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.77 JMD 2,477

$23.68 JMD 3,719

-33.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.45 JMD 3,527

$31.28 JMD 4,914

-28.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.39 JMD 6,502

$78.7 JMD 12.4K

-47.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 JMD 8,432

$102 JMD 16.0K

-47.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 JMD 158.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 JMD 45.2K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Negril: September 6, 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 Negril: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 30% 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 $1,096 in May Pen and $1,422 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $730 per month in May Pen versus $948 in Negril – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $730 in May Pen versus $948 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 30% less than in Negril. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.