Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Saint Andrew Parish Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Saint Andrew Parish

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in May Pen versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $993 in May Pen versus $1,900 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,351 in May Pen versus $2,650 in Saint Andrew Parish.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 45% less than in Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 53% lower, Saint Andrew Parish 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,197

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.16 JMD 5,373

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 JMD 981

Cappuccino

$1.90 JMD 299

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

$0.96 JMD 152

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 497

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 JMD 348

$4.26 JMD 670

-48.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 JMD 584

$1.03 JMD 162

260.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 JMD 496

$1.29 JMD 202

144.19%

Eggs

$3.33 JMD 524

$3.46 JMD 544

-3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 JMD 1,723

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 JMD 1,166

$6.29 JMD 989

17.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.04 JMD 792

$7.57 JMD 1,191

-33.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 249

$5.99 JMD 942

-73.62%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 785

$3.09 JMD 487

61.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.20 JMD 975

$4.15 JMD 652

49.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$2.90 JMD 456

-36.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 301

$2.01 JMD 316

-4.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 302

$2.02 JMD 318

-4.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.08 JMD 484

0.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 JMD 455

$1.50 JMD 236

92.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.85 JMD 1,392

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,802

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 340

$2.77 JMD 436

-22.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 JMD 502

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 496

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 977

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.28 JMD 202

6.25%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

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

$43.00 JMD 6,762

$21.80 JMD 3,429

97.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.76 JMD 6,253

$51.1 JMD 8,029

-22.12%

Cinema Ticket

$13.05 JMD 2,052

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

$318 JMD 50.0K

$222 JMD 34.9K

43.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,473 JMD 389.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.93 JMD 2,505

$26.59 JMD 4,182

-40.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.77 JMD 3,424

$25.91 JMD 4,074

-15.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.01 JMD 6,449

$71.1 JMD 11.2K

-42.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 JMD 8,439

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

-28.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

$747 JMD 117.4K

-76.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

$309 JMD 48.6K

-28.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 JMD 90.2K

$1,880 JMD 295.7K

-69.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 JMD 68.1K

$884 JMD 139.0K

-50.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,760 JMD 434.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$724 JMD 113.8K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in May Pen and $747 in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 Saint Andrew Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 $952 in May Pen and $1,726 in Saint Andrew Parish 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: $177 in May Pen versus $747 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $634 per month in May Pen versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $634 in May Pen versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 81% less than in Saint Andrew Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.