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: $1,314 in Montego Bay versus $872 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,787 in Montego Bay versus $1,427 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,261 in Montego Bay versus $1,982 in Alexandria.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 51% more expensive than Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 2% lower, Alexandria 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$7.58 JMD 1,193

-0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 JMD 7,905

$63.0 JMD 9,900

-20.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 JMD 1,161

$8.53 JMD 1,341

-13.48%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.45 JMD 700

-3.15%

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

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.36 JMD 214

-2.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.75 JMD 118

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

$2.57 JMD 404

-5.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.20 JMD 503

-0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 JMD 397

$4.36 JMD 686

-41.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 JMD 434

$3.47 JMD 545

-20.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

Eggs

$3.56 JMD 559

$3.60 JMD 566

-1.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 JMD 1,721

$10.99 JMD 1,728

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,014

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 JMD 1,189

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 JMD 537

$5.98 JMD 941

-42.81%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 494

$3.09 JMD 486

1.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 JMD 427

$4.25 JMD 668

-36.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 JMD 275

$2.93 JMD 461

-40.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$2.00 JMD 315

1.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.93 JMD 303

-41.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 JMD 301

$3.00 JMD 471

-36.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 JMD 149

$1.44 JMD 227

-34.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 JMD 1,420

$8.87 JMD 1,395

1.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.28 JMD 1,773

$11.58 JMD 1,821

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 JMD 332

$2.88 JMD 453

-26.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.17 JMD 498

-0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 JMD 151

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 JMD 143

$1.12 JMD 176

-18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 505

$3.19 JMD 502

0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 JMD 1,006

$6.32 JMD 995

1.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 JMD 203

$1.27 JMD 200

1.57%

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

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

-0.14%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

0.09%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$165 JMD 25.9K

-1.15%

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

$21.15 JMD 3,327

$22.41 JMD 3,524

-5.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.83 JMD 7,522

$51.1 JMD 8,043

-6.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.84 JMD 5,952

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 JMD 1,188

$13.35 JMD 2,100

-43.45%

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

$63.0 JMD 9,903

$229 JMD 36.0K

-72.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

$2,491 JMD 391.7K

-23.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.80 JMD 4,057

$26.28 JMD 4,132

-1.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.75 JMD 3,106

$25.90 JMD 4,074

-23.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

$70.2 JMD 11.0K

-5.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

$77.0 JMD 12.1K

-2.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 JMD 41.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 JMD 102.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 JMD 69.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 86.8K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $50.0 in Montego Bay vs $63.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $350 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 51% in total monthly costs ($1,314 vs $872 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,971 in Montego Bay and $1,308 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 $63.0 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 $50.0 in Montego Bay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $872 in Alexandria versus $1,314 in Montego Bay, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Montego Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria 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 Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.