Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Spanish Town Cost of Living Comparison Between May Pen and Spanish Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in May Pen versus $856 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in May Pen versus $1,419 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,366 in May Pen versus $1,982 in Spanish Town.

Living in May Pen costs roughly 25% less than in Spanish Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: May Pen 52% lower, Spanish Town 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.64 JMD 1,205

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 JMD 9,815

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 JMD 1,410

Cappuccino

$4.33 JMD 682

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

$1.31 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 405

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 489

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 JMD 337

$1.90 JMD 299

12.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 JMD 605

$2.62 JMD 412

46.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.08 JMD 486

$0.43 JMD 67.0

616.28%

Eggs

$3.32 JMD 523

$3.17 JMD 499

4.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 480

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 JMD 1,170

$1.98 JMD 312

274.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.10 JMD 804

$2.77 JMD 436

84.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$2.24 JMD 353

-28.13%

Banana (1kg)

$4.98 JMD 784

$1.93 JMD 304

158.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,013

$1.60 JMD 253

301.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$1.86 JMD 294

3.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 305

$2.08 JMD 327

-7.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$2.02 JMD 318

-9.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.10 JMD 489

-0.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 447

$0.90 JMD 142

215.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 JMD 1,371

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 JMD 1,788

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 JMD 355

$1.58 JMD 249

42.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 JMD 384

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 497

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 975

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 220

$1.28 JMD 202

8.59%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

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

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

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

$163 JMD 25.7K

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

$42.49 JMD 6,696

$21.74 JMD 3,426

95.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.56 JMD 6,077

$51.8 JMD 8,155

-25.49%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 JMD 2,065

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

$313 JMD 49.4K

$224 JMD 35.3K

39.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,455 JMD 386.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.48 JMD 2,440

$25.93 JMD 4,086

-40.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.50 JMD 3,388

$25.38 JMD 4,000

-15.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.10 JMD 6,319

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

-43.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 JMD 8,437

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

-31.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 JMD 28.1K

$154 JMD 24.2K

16.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.8K

$126 JMD 19.9K

74.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 JMD 88.5K

$614 JMD 96.8K

-8.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 JMD 68.0K

$377 JMD 59.3K

14.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,168 JMD 184.1K

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 Spanish Town: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in May Pen and $154 in Spanish Town. 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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Spanish Town. 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 $1,284 in Spanish Town 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: $178 in May Pen versus $154 in Spanish Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $646 per month in May Pen versus $856 in Spanish Town – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Spanish Town pay roughly 43% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 32% less than in Spanish Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.