Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Old Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Old Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in May Pen versus $715 in Old Harbour.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in May Pen versus $1,163 in Old Harbour.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,366 in May Pen versus $1,610 in Old Harbour.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 10% less than in Old Harbour, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Old Harbour 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 JMD 1,013

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.66 JMD 4,990

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 JMD 777

Cappuccino

$4.43 JMD 698

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

$0.93 JMD 146

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 JMD 96.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 479

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 JMD 337

$4.24 JMD 669

-49.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 JMD 605

$3.60 JMD 567

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 486

$1.61 JMD 254

91.30%

Eggs

$3.32 JMD 523

$3.49 JMD 550

-4.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 531

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 JMD 1,170

$6.31 JMD 995

17.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 804

$7.55 JMD 1,190

-32.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$5.88 JMD 927

-72.62%

Banana (1kg)

$4.98 JMD 784

$3.16 JMD 497

57.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,013

$4.12 JMD 649

56.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.06 JMD 325

-6.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 305

$2.08 JMD 328

-7.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$2.00 JMD 315

-8.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 JMD 485

$2.99 JMD 471

3.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 447

$1.49 JMD 235

90.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,362

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 JMD 1,814

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 JMD 355

$2.77 JMD 437

-18.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 JMD 995

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 220

$1.07 JMD 169

29.91%

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

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

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

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

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

$49.50 JMD 7,800

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

$42.49 JMD 6,696

$22.09 JMD 3,481

92.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.56 JMD 6,077

$43.72 JMD 6,890

-11.80%

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 JMD 2,066

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

$313 JMD 49.4K

$228 JMD 35.9K

37.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,483 JMD 391.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.48 JMD 2,440

$25.67 JMD 4,045

-39.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.50 JMD 3,388

$25.43 JMD 4,007

-15.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.10 JMD 6,319

$70.0 JMD 11.0K

-42.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 JMD 8,437

$76.5 JMD 12.1K

-30.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 JMD 28.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 JMD 88.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 JMD 68.0K

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 11, 2026

Last update for Old Harbour: July 11, 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 Old Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Old Harbour. 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 $1,073 in Old Harbour 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.

All in, you'll spend $646 per month in May Pen versus $715 in Old Harbour – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Old Harbour. 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 11% less than in Old Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.