Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Ocho Rios Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Ocho Rios

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in May Pen versus $904 in Ocho Rios.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in May Pen versus $1,927 in Ocho Rios.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,366 in May Pen versus $2,950 in Ocho Rios.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 28% less than in Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Ocho Rios 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,202

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.1 JMD 9,805

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 JMD 984

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 440

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

$1.37 JMD 217

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 JMD 350

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 485

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 JMD 337

$4.08 JMD 644

-47.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 JMD 606

$2.80 JMD 441

37.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 486

$1.56 JMD 245

97.44%

Eggs

$3.32 JMD 524

$3.53 JMD 557

-5.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 JMD 1,047

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 JMD 1,171

$6.47 JMD 1,021

14.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 805

$7.54 JMD 1,190

-32.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$6.08 JMD 959

-73.52%

Banana (1kg)

$4.98 JMD 785

$3.14 JMD 496

58.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,014

$4.34 JMD 685

48.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.35 JMD 370

-17.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 305

$2.04 JMD 322

-5.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$1.93 JMD 304

-5.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 JMD 485

$2.10 JMD 331

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 448

$1.12 JMD 177

153.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,416

Wine (Bottle)

$9.70 JMD 1,530

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 JMD 356

$2.42 JMD 382

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 JMD 461

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 139

$1.60 JMD 252

-45.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 JMD 104

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 JMD 147

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 982

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 220

$1.24 JMD 196

12.10%

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

$42.5K JMD 6.7M

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)

$107 JMD 16.8K

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

$42.49 JMD 6,705

$21.93 JMD 3,460

93.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.56 JMD 6,085

$39.44 JMD 6,223

-2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.78 JMD 2,490

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.71 JMD 901

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 JMD 1,784

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

$313 JMD 49.4K

$228 JMD 35.9K

37.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,464 JMD 388.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.48 JMD 2,443

$15.78 JMD 2,490

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.50 JMD 3,393

$12.51 JMD 1,974

71.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.10 JMD 6,327

$49.26 JMD 7,773

-18.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 JMD 8,448

$62.4 JMD 9,843

-14.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 JMD 28.1K

$372 JMD 58.7K

-52.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.8K

$187 JMD 29.6K

17.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 JMD 88.6K

$1,194 JMD 188.4K

-52.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 JMD 68.1K

$1,184 JMD 186.7K

-63.52%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in May Pen and $372 in Ocho Rios. 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 Ocho Rios: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Ocho Rios. 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 $1,355 in Ocho Rios 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: $178 in May Pen versus $372 in Ocho Rios. 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 $904 in Ocho Rios – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Ocho Rios. 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 40% less than in Ocho Rios. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.