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: $632 in May Pen versus $1,112 in Portmore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $986 in May Pen versus $1,853 in Portmore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,339 in May Pen versus $2,594 in Portmore.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 43% less than in Portmore, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 53% lower, Portmore 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.82 JMD 757

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 JMD 9,885

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 JMD 1,380

Cappuccino

$4.23 JMD 665

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

$0.69 JMD 108

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 JMD 78.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 JMD 291

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 JMD 350

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 JMD 348

$3.05 JMD 479

-27.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 JMD 577

$3.63 JMD 571

1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 485

$0.99 JMD 155

212.12%

Eggs

$3.44 JMD 540

$3.53 JMD 554

-2.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 JMD 1,757

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,184

$6.44 JMD 1,011

17.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 JMD 796

$7.50 JMD 1,178

-32.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 241

$5.99 JMD 941

-74.29%

Banana (1kg)

$5.03 JMD 791

$3.11 JMD 488

61.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,010

$2.95 JMD 464

117.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$3.06 JMD 481

-37.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 291

$2.01 JMD 315

-7.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 301

$1.99 JMD 313

-3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 JMD 499

$1.59 JMD 250

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 448

$1.28 JMD 201

122.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 JMD 1,368

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 JMD 1,804

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 JMD 341

$2.84 JMD 446

-23.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 JMD 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

$1.60 JMD 252

-49.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.9 JMD 9,884

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 JMD 143

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 510

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.29 JMD 988

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 211

$1.08 JMD 170

25.00%

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

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

$156 JMD 24.5K

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

$42.07 JMD 6,608

$22.40 JMD 3,518

87.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.96 JMD 6,119

$51.8 JMD 8,129

-24.73%

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 JMD 2,068

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

$310 JMD 48.7K

$224 JMD 35.2K

38.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,479 JMD 389.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.62 JMD 2,453

$25.93 JMD 4,073

-39.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.03 JMD 3,460

$25.32 JMD 3,977

-12.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.34 JMD 6,335

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

-42.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 JMD 8,445

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

-28.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$176 JMD 27.7K

$314 JMD 49.4K

-43.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 JMD 34.5K

$215 JMD 33.8K

2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 JMD 87.5K

$646 JMD 101.5K

-13.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 JMD 69.8K

$598 JMD 93.8K

-25.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,724 JMD 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,745 JMD 902.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,267 JMD 199.0K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Portmore: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $176 in May Pen and $314 in Portmore. 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 Portmore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 76% 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 $948 in May Pen and $1,668 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $176 in May Pen versus $314 in Portmore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $632 per month in May Pen versus $1,112 in Portmore – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Portmore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $632 in May Pen versus $1,112 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 76% less than in Portmore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.