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: $709 in May Pen versus $1,121 in Ocho Rios.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $818 in May Pen versus $1,573 in Ocho Rios.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $927 in May Pen versus $2,026 in Ocho Rios.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 37% less than in Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 47% lower, Ocho Rios 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.79 JMD 1,534

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.0 JMD 10.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 JMD 1,111

Cappuccino

$3.21 JMD 503

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

$1.20 JMD 188

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 116

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 JMD 355

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 JMD 490

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 JMD 356

$3.80 JMD 596

-40.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 JMD 581

$2.76 JMD 433

34.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 JMD 499

$1.66 JMD 260

91.57%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 544

$3.63 JMD 569

-4.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 JMD 1,774

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.47 JMD 1,171

$6.28 JMD 985

18.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.20 JMD 815

$10.48 JMD 1,643

-50.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 253

$6.25 JMD 979

-74.24%

Banana (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 800

$3.13 JMD 490

62.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,011

$6.40 JMD 1,004

0.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 JMD 292

$2.52 JMD 395

-26.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 293

$3.22 JMD 505

-41.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 293

$2.59 JMD 407

-27.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 491

$2.77 JMD 434

13.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 JMD 437

$1.40 JMD 220

99.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 JMD 1,391

Wine (Bottle)

$9.30 JMD 1,458

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 JMD 357

$2.93 JMD 459

-22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 JMD 640

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 JMD 147

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 JMD 185

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.08 JMD 483

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.30 JMD 988

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 JMD 215

$1.41 JMD 221

-2.84%

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

$44.7K JMD 7.0M

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

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

$179 JMD 28.0K

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

$43.00 JMD 6,743

$20.45 JMD 3,207

110.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.4 JMD 8,364

$53.2 JMD 8,338

0.32%

Cinema Ticket

$11.36 JMD 1,782

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

$369 JMD 57.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,397 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.83 JMD 2,481

$23.58 JMD 3,697

-32.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.50 JMD 3,527

$31.72 JMD 4,974

-29.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.72 JMD 6,541

$78.6 JMD 12.3K

-46.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 JMD 8,318

$102 JMD 16.0K

-47.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$375 JMD 58.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 JMD 45.6K

$187 JMD 29.4K

55.28%

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 22, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: September 21, 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 Ocho Rios: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 58% 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 $1,063 in May Pen and $1,681 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.

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

All in, you'll spend $709 per month in May Pen versus $1,121 in Ocho Rios – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $709 in May Pen versus $1,121 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 58% less than in Ocho Rios. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.