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: $646 in May Pen versus $870 in Negril.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in May Pen versus $1,358 in Negril.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,364 in May Pen versus $1,846 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 52% lower, Negril 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 JMD 1,195

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.34 JMD 7,770

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.00 JMD 1,418

Cappuccino

$1.97 JMD 310

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)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 482

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 JMD 335

$4.40 JMD 693

-51.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 JMD 577

$3.47 JMD 546

5.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 JMD 499

$1.57 JMD 247

101.91%

Eggs

$3.29 JMD 517

$3.56 JMD 560

-7.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 JMD 1,732

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.59 JMD 1,195

$6.26 JMD 985

21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 JMD 769

$7.81 JMD 1,229

-37.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 JMD 244

$6.07 JMD 956

-74.46%

Banana (1kg)

$5.15 JMD 811

$3.14 JMD 495

64.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.24 JMD 983

$4.26 JMD 671

46.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 303

$2.91 JMD 458

-34.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 JMD 289

$2.01 JMD 317

-8.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$2.00 JMD 315

-4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.07 JMD 483

3.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 JMD 440

$1.44 JMD 227

93.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.57 JMD 1,350

Wine (Bottle)

$11.42 JMD 1,799

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 JMD 350

$2.81 JMD 443

-21.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 JMD 132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 493

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 215

$1.27 JMD 200

7.09%

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

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

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

$165 JMD 26.0K

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

$42.30 JMD 6,661

$22.25 JMD 3,505

90.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.33 JMD 6,194

$51.0 JMD 8,024

-22.81%

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 JMD 2,057

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

$316 JMD 49.7K

$230 JMD 36.2K

37.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,500 JMD 393.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.55 JMD 2,448

$25.79 JMD 4,061

-39.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.02 JMD 3,467

$25.48 JMD 4,013

-13.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.24 JMD 6,336

$72.2 JMD 11.4K

-44.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.4 JMD 8,416

$74.8 JMD 11.8K

-28.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 JMD 27.4K

$1,003 JMD 158.0K

-82.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 JMD 34.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 JMD 89.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.4K

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Negril: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in May Pen and $1,003 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 $970 in May Pen and $1,305 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: $174 in May Pen versus $1,003 in Negril. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $646 per month in May Pen versus $870 in Negril – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $646 in May Pen versus $870 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.