Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and Alexandria Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and Alexandria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Montego Bay versus $899 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Montego Bay versus $1,425 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,231 in Montego Bay versus $1,952 in Alexandria.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 43% more expensive than Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 4% lower, Alexandria 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,208

$7.67 JMD 1,205

0.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 JMD 7,988

$62.9 JMD 9,881

-19.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 JMD 1,147

$8.56 JMD 1,344

-14.72%

Cappuccino

$4.38 JMD 688

$4.37 JMD 687

0.23%

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

$1.37 JMD 216

$1.38 JMD 216

-0.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$0.72 JMD 113

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 389

$2.55 JMD 400

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

$3.04 JMD 477

1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 JMD 396

$4.35 JMD 683

-42.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 JMD 421

$3.62 JMD 569

-25.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 246

$1.55 JMD 243

1.29%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 565

$3.57 JMD 561

0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 JMD 1,732

$10.93 JMD 1,716

0.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,010

$6.30 JMD 989

2.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 JMD 1,220

$7.61 JMD 1,195

2.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 529

$6.10 JMD 958

-44.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 486

$3.13 JMD 492

-1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 JMD 445

$4.15 JMD 652

-31.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 JMD 277

$2.90 JMD 455

-39.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$2.04 JMD 320

3.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 177

$1.98 JMD 311

-42.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 JMD 300

$3.10 JMD 486

-38.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 146

$1.49 JMD 234

-37.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 JMD 1,352

$8.64 JMD 1,357

-0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,800

$11.36 JMD 1,784

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 JMD 331

$2.75 JMD 431

-23.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 481

$3.18 JMD 500

-3.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 JMD 146

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 JMD 146

$1.08 JMD 169

-13.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 505

$3.10 JMD 486

3.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 JMD 1,001

$6.09 JMD 957

4.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 195

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.13%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.6M

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

0.20%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

0.21%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$162 JMD 25.4K

0.54%

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

$21.26 JMD 3,339

$22.32 JMD 3,506

-4.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.70 JMD 7,491

$50.6 JMD 7,943

-5.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 JMD 5,866

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 JMD 1,185

$13.19 JMD 2,072

-42.84%

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

$62.6 JMD 9,827

$229 JMD 36.0K

-72.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,882 JMD 295.6K

$2,512 JMD 394.6K

-25.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.12 JMD 4,102

$26.06 JMD 4,094

0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.10 JMD 3,157

$25.60 JMD 4,021

-21.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

$70.2 JMD 11.0K

-5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

-2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 JMD 40.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 JMD 72.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 JMD 105.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 JMD 67.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 JMD 88.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-12.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Montego Bay: April 25, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Montego Bay vs $63.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $351 per month, with Montego Bay cheaper across the board.

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

Montego Bay vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montego Bay and Alexandria differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $899 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,931 in Montego Bay and $1,348 in Alexandria 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.

Childcare runs $62.6 in Montego Bay versus $229 in Alexandria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Alexandria – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $51.0 in Montego Bay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Alexandria 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 Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.