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: $630 in May Pen versus $928 in Ocho Rios.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $973 in May Pen versus $1,932 in Ocho Rios.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,316 in May Pen versus $2,936 in Ocho Rios.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 32% less than in Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 53% lower, Ocho Rios 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 JMD 1,151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,776

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 JMD 991

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 438

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

$1.38 JMD 217

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 JMD 355

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 499

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 JMD 353

$3.95 JMD 621

-43.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 JMD 578

$2.72 JMD 427

35.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 JMD 500

$1.56 JMD 245

103.85%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 544

$3.47 JMD 546

-0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,018

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.63 JMD 1,200

$6.34 JMD 998

20.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 JMD 800

$7.47 JMD 1,175

-31.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 241

$5.90 JMD 927

-74.07%

Banana (1kg)

$5.11 JMD 804

$3.16 JMD 497

61.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 JMD 956

$4.11 JMD 646

47.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$2.26 JMD 355

-15.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 303

$2.04 JMD 322

-5.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 291

$2.03 JMD 319

-8.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 JMD 502

$2.08 JMD 328

53.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 455

$1.08 JMD 170

168.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,410

Wine (Bottle)

$9.63 JMD 1,514

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 JMD 349

$2.45 JMD 386

-9.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 JMD 475

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 130

$1.54 JMD 243

-46.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 JMD 102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 JMD 151

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 JMD 1,003

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 JMD 222

$1.28 JMD 202

10.16%

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)

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

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

$103 JMD 16.2K

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

$41.74 JMD 6,563

$22.01 JMD 3,460

89.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.36 JMD 6,189

$38.06 JMD 5,985

3.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.73 JMD 2,473

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 JMD 912

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 JMD 1,802

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

$313 JMD 49.2K

$224 JMD 35.2K

39.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,461 JMD 387.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.86 JMD 2,494

$15.92 JMD 2,504

-0.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.62 JMD 3,400

$12.36 JMD 1,943

74.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.73 JMD 6,405

$50.8 JMD 7,983

-19.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 JMD 8,409

$63.2 JMD 9,937

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

$382 JMD 60.0K

-53.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 JMD 34.0K

$185 JMD 29.0K

17.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.5K

$1,185 JMD 186.4K

-52.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 JMD 69.7K

$1,217 JMD 191.4K

-63.57%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in May Pen and $382 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 47% 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 $945 in May Pen and $1,391 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: $177 in May Pen versus $382 in Ocho Rios. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in May Pen versus $928 in Ocho Rios – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Ocho Rios. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $630 in May Pen versus $928 in Ocho Rios, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Ocho Rios. 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 47% less than in Ocho Rios. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.