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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,280 in Montego Bay versus $919 in Bamako.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,773 in Montego Bay versus $1,518 in Bamako.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,266 in Montego Bay versus $2,116 in Bamako.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 39% more expensive than in Bamako, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 4% lower, Bamako 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 JMD 1,158

$6.80 F CFA 3,894

8.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 JMD 7,941

$37.30 F CFA 21.4K

35.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 JMD 1,168

$6.47 F CFA 3,708

14.53%

Cappuccino

$4.27 JMD 673

$1.84 F CFA 1,056

132.07%

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

$1.37 JMD 216

$0.81 F CFA 462

69.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.60 F CFA 346

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 JMD 397

$2.32 F CFA 1,330

8.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 479

$20.92 F CFA 12.0K

-85.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 JMD 399

$2.32 F CFA 1,327

9.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 JMD 420

$3.86 F CFA 2,213

-30.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 547

$6.59 F CFA 3,777

-47.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.26 JMD 1,774

$18.13 F CFA 10.4K

-37.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 JMD 998

$15.66 F CFA 8,972

-59.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 JMD 1,181

$12.60 F CFA 7,216

-40.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 JMD 529

$3.89 F CFA 2,230

-13.62%

Banana (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 473

$1.04 F CFA 593

188.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 JMD 442

$2.80 F CFA 1,607

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 291

$2.07 F CFA 1,187

-10.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 323

$1.35 F CFA 772

51.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.41 F CFA 811

-23.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 JMD 303

$0.09 F CFA 52.8

2033.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 JMD 155

$2.76 F CFA 1,581

-64.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.82 JMD 1,390

$0.90 F CFA 518

880.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 JMD 1,789

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 JMD 344

$1.55 F CFA 886

41.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 488

$1.61 F CFA 921

92.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 JMD 142

$4.61 F CFA 2,639

-80.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 JMD 143

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 495

$1.21 F CFA 693

159.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 JMD 961

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 195

$1.18 F CFA 678

4.24%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

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

$165 JMD 26.1K

$148 F CFA 84.8K

11.70%

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

$21.18 JMD 3,337

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.01 JMD 7,408

$57.6 F CFA 33.0K

-18.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.92 JMD 5,819

$68.6 F CFA 39.3K

-46.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.13 F CFA 2,364

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 JMD 1,211

$5.52 F CFA 3,160

39.13%

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

$64.3 JMD 10.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,894 JMD 298.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.48 JMD 4,173

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.91 JMD 3,138

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 JMD 10.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.5 JMD 11.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 JMD 41.0K

$174 F CFA 99.4K

50.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$450 JMD 71.0K

$79.8 F CFA 45.7K

464.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 JMD 104.5K

$412 F CFA 236.0K

60.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 JMD 69.8K

$302 F CFA 173.3K

46.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 F CFA 702.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$557 JMD 87.7K

$257 F CFA 147.2K

116.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Montego Bay: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bamako: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Montego Bay and $174 in Bamako. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montego Bay pays 117% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Montego Bay vs $37.00 in Bamako. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $357, with Montego Bay cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bamako: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bamako wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Montego Bay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bamako the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 117% higher in Montego Bay, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Montego Bay versus $174 in Bamako. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,280 per month in Montego Bay versus $919 in Bamako – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Montego Bay pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bamako 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 Bamako gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.