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: $1,295 in Montego Bay versus $875 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,753 in Montego Bay versus $1,419 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,210 in Montego Bay versus $1,962 in Alexandria.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 48% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 3% lower, Alexandria 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,188

$7.69 JMD 1,211

-1.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 JMD 7,898

$63.2 JMD 9,960

-20.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 JMD 1,215

$8.66 JMD 1,363

-10.85%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.39 JMD 691

-1.82%

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

$1.32 JMD 209

$1.38 JMD 217

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.69 JMD 109

10.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

$2.44 JMD 385

0.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.06 JMD 482

0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 JMD 390

$4.23 JMD 666

-41.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 JMD 444

$3.59 JMD 565

-21.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$1.56 JMD 246

2.56%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 544

$3.59 JMD 566

-3.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,752

$10.89 JMD 1,716

2.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$6.47 JMD 1,019

-0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 JMD 1,211

$7.57 JMD 1,192

1.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 JMD 528

$6.19 JMD 975

-45.88%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$3.01 JMD 474

4.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$4.26 JMD 672

-35.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 JMD 281

$2.96 JMD 466

-39.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$2.00 JMD 316

2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 177

$1.94 JMD 305

-41.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 JMD 290

$3.10 JMD 488

-40.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 147

$1.46 JMD 230

-36.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 JMD 1,386

$8.91 JMD 1,404

-1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,758

$11.42 JMD 1,799

-2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 JMD 334

$2.79 JMD 439

-24.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

$3.19 JMD 502

-1.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 145

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 152

$1.12 JMD 176

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

$3.16 JMD 498

2.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 966

$6.38 JMD 1,005

-3.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.24 JMD 195

-0.81%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

0.09%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-3.35%

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

$161 JMD 25.4K

1.68%

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

$21.61 JMD 3,404

$22.05 JMD 3,473

-2.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.06 JMD 7,569

$50.3 JMD 7,917

-4.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 JMD 5,869

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$12.94 JMD 2,039

-41.50%

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

$62.7 JMD 9,870

$223 JMD 35.1K

-71.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

$2,485 JMD 391.4K

-25.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.57 JMD 4,185

$26.59 JMD 4,187

-0.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 JMD 3,083

$25.10 JMD 3,953

-22.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

-6.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

$77.3 JMD 12.2K

-1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 JMD 41.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 JMD 104.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 87.0K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: July 27, 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 48% in total monthly costs ($1,295 vs $875 including rent). Alexandria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,943 in Montego Bay and $1,313 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 $62.7 in Montego Bay versus $223 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.

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 48% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.