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: $737 in May Pen versus $1,023 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in May Pen versus $1,959 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $929 in May Pen versus $2,895 in Spanish Town.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.88 JMD 2,488

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 JMD 11.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 JMD 1,378

Cappuccino

$5.31 JMD 832

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

$1.16 JMD 181

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 106

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 JMD 353

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 485

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 JMD 345

$4.11 JMD 644

-46.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 JMD 600

$3.82 JMD 599

0.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 JMD 505

$1.56 JMD 245

106.41%

Eggs

$3.36 JMD 527

$3.50 JMD 548

-4.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.69 JMD 1,833

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.46 JMD 1,169

$6.49 JMD 1,017

14.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 JMD 772

$10.28 JMD 1,611

-52.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

$6.21 JMD 973

-74.72%

Banana (1kg)

$4.99 JMD 783

$4.02 JMD 629

24.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 979

$7.54 JMD 1,182

-17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 305

$3.13 JMD 490

-37.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 JMD 294

$3.25 JMD 510

-42.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 306

$2.13 JMD 334

-8.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 486

$3.03 JMD 476

2.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 JMD 442

$1.51 JMD 236

86.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.43 JMD 1,478

Wine (Bottle)

$11.44 JMD 1,793

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 JMD 354

$2.95 JMD 463

-23.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 JMD 621

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 JMD 185

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 503

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 JMD 992

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 212

$1.40 JMD 219

-3.57%

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

$44.3K 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)

$175 JMD 27.5K

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

$42.36 JMD 6,639

$30.04 JMD 4,708

41.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 JMD 8,304

$52.5 JMD 8,222

0.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 JMD 2,100

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

$364 JMD 57.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,190 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.60 JMD 2,445

$23.65 JMD 3,706

-34.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.83 JMD 3,421

$31.61 JMD 4,954

-30.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.48 JMD 6,500

$77.8 JMD 12.2K

-46.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 JMD 8,537

$103 JMD 16.1K

-47.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 JMD 100.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 JMD 78.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,154 JMD 180.8K

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 Spanish Town: 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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 39% 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 $1,105 in May Pen and $1,534 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Spanish Town. 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 $1,023 in Spanish Town – a 39% 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 39% less than in Spanish Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.