Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Portmore Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Portmore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $737 in May Pen versus $1,243 in Portmore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in May Pen versus $2,094 in Portmore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in May Pen versus $2,944 in Portmore.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 41% less than in Portmore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 46% lower, Portmore 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.22 JMD 1,602

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,744

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 JMD 1,408

Cappuccino

$5.19 JMD 814

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

$0.92 JMD 144

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 JMD 102

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 JMD 341

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 JMD 341

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 JMD 345

$3.10 JMD 486

-29.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 JMD 600

$3.55 JMD 556

7.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 JMD 505

$1.00 JMD 156

222.00%

Eggs

$3.36 JMD 527

$3.48 JMD 545

-3.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 JMD 1,780

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.46 JMD 1,169

$6.46 JMD 1,012

15.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 JMD 772

$9.35 JMD 1,465

-47.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

$6.05 JMD 948

-74.05%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 783

$3.94 JMD 618

26.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 979

$2.93 JMD 460

113.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 305

$3.00 JMD 470

-35.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 JMD 294

$3.18 JMD 498

-40.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 306

$2.60 JMD 407

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 486

$1.57 JMD 247

97.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 JMD 442

$1.24 JMD 195

127.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 JMD 1,451

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,797

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 JMD 354

$2.93 JMD 459

-22.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 338

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 JMD 368

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 JMD 8,042

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 JMD 156

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 JMD 506

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.21 JMD 973

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 212

$1.27 JMD 199

6.30%

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

$44.9K JMD 7.0M

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

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

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

$161 JMD 25.3K

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

$42.36 JMD 6,639

$29.50 JMD 4,623

43.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 JMD 8,304

$53.6 JMD 8,401

-1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.6 JMD 9,343

Cinema Ticket

$13.54 JMD 2,122

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

$284 JMD 44.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,108 JMD 487.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.60 JMD 2,445

$23.31 JMD 3,654

-33.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.83 JMD 3,421

$32.31 JMD 5,064

-32.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.48 JMD 6,500

$77.9 JMD 12.2K

-46.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 JMD 8,537

$94.4 JMD 14.8K

-42.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 JMD 49.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.5K

$219 JMD 34.3K

29.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$659 JMD 103.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 JMD 95.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,565 JMD 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,760 JMD 902.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,294 JMD 202.8K

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 Portmore: September 15, 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 Portmore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Portmore. 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 $1,864 in Portmore 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 21% higher in Portmore. 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 $1,243 in Portmore – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $737 in May Pen versus $1,243 in Portmore, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Portmore. 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 69% less than in Portmore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.