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: $737 in May Pen versus $1,030 in Old Harbour.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in May Pen versus $1,729 in Old Harbour.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in May Pen versus $2,428 in Old Harbour.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 46% lower, Old Harbour 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.02 JMD 2,510

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.7 JMD 12.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 JMD 1,374

Cappuccino

$5.49 JMD 861

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

$1.17 JMD 183

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 109

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 JMD 342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 JMD 510

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 JMD 345

$4.15 JMD 651

-46.99%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 JMD 600

$3.77 JMD 590

1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 JMD 505

$1.59 JMD 249

102.52%

Eggs

$3.36 JMD 527

$3.63 JMD 569

-7.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.69 JMD 1,832

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.46 JMD 1,169

$6.16 JMD 965

21.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 JMD 772

$10.19 JMD 1,596

-51.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

$6.26 JMD 980

-74.92%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 783

$4.03 JMD 631

23.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 979

$7.36 JMD 1,154

-15.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 305

$2.99 JMD 468

-34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 JMD 294

$3.32 JMD 521

-43.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 306

$2.74 JMD 430

-28.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.02 JMD 474

2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 JMD 442

$1.51 JMD 237

86.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 JMD 1,495

Wine (Bottle)

$11.52 JMD 1,806

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 JMD 354

$2.89 JMD 453

-21.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 JMD 644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 JMD 185

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 507

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 JMD 980

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 212

$1.37 JMD 214

-1.46%

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

$44.0K JMD 6.9M

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

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

$176 JMD 27.6K

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

$42.36 JMD 6,639

$30.18 JMD 4,730

40.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 JMD 8,304

$53.7 JMD 8,421

-1.38%

Cinema Ticket

$13.56 JMD 2,125

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

$362 JMD 56.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,258 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.60 JMD 2,445

$23.54 JMD 3,690

-33.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.83 JMD 3,421

$31.17 JMD 4,885

-29.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.48 JMD 6,500

$77.3 JMD 12.1K

-46.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 JMD 8,537

$102 JMD 16.0K

-46.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.5K

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 12, 2026

Last update for Old Harbour: September 13, 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 40% 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 $1,105 in May Pen and $1,545 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Old Harbour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $737 per month in May Pen versus $1,030 in Old Harbour – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 Old Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.