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 $861 in Negril.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $987 in May Pen versus $1,352 in Negril.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,328 in May Pen versus $1,842 in Negril.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 25% less than in Negril, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Negril 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,156

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 JMD 7,977

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 JMD 1,418

Cappuccino

$1.97 JMD 311

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

$1.35 JMD 214

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 393

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 485

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 JMD 353

$4.19 JMD 663

-46.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 JMD 608

$3.52 JMD 557

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 491

$1.61 JMD 254

92.55%

Eggs

$3.28 JMD 519

$3.47 JMD 548

-5.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,757

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 JMD 1,199

$6.23 JMD 986

21.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.98 JMD 788

$7.73 JMD 1,223

-35.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 JMD 245

$6.06 JMD 960

-74.42%

Banana (1kg)

$5.13 JMD 811

$3.00 JMD 474

71.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.27 JMD 993

$4.18 JMD 661

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 JMD 294

$3.04 JMD 482

-38.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 JMD 291

$2.10 JMD 333

-12.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 303

$2.01 JMD 318

-4.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.20 JMD 507

$3.13 JMD 496

2.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 438

$1.44 JMD 227

92.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 JMD 1,428

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 JMD 1,799

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 342

$2.78 JMD 440

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 501

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 495

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 JMD 972

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 JMD 217

$1.29 JMD 205

6.20%

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

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

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

$164 JMD 26.0K

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

$42.21 JMD 6,681

$22.52 JMD 3,564

87.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 JMD 6,097

$51.2 JMD 8,105

-24.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 JMD 2,050

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

$316 JMD 50.0K

$230 JMD 36.4K

37.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 397.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 JMD 2,523

$25.57 JMD 4,047

-37.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.48 JMD 3,400

$25.37 JMD 4,015

-15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.08 JMD 6,502

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

-42.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.9 JMD 8,377

$77.5 JMD 12.3K

-31.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$172 JMD 27.2K

$1,011 JMD 160.0K

-82.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 JMD 34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 JMD 89.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Negril: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $172 in May Pen and $1,011 in Negril. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $0 in May Pen vs $50 in Negril for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $348 per month, with May Pen cheaper across the board.

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 33% 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 $968 in May Pen and $1,292 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: $172 in May Pen versus $1,011 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 $861 in Negril – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $646 in May Pen versus $861 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 33% less than in Negril. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.