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: $1,298 in Montego Bay versus $918 in Bamako.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,772 in Montego Bay versus $1,506 in Bamako.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,246 in Montego Bay versus $2,095 in Bamako.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 41% more expensive than Bamako, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 3% lower, Bamako 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 JMD 1,209

$6.78 F CFA 3,823

13.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 JMD 7,880

$37.25 F CFA 21.0K

35.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 JMD 1,143

$6.44 F CFA 3,632

13.20%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 675

$1.93 F CFA 1,091

123.32%

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

$1.35 JMD 212

$0.78 F CFA 440

73.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.60 F CFA 339

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 JMD 396

$2.46 F CFA 1,386

2.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 504

$21.27 F CFA 12.0K

-84.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.49 JMD 389

$2.33 F CFA 1,313

6.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 JMD 424

$3.76 F CFA 2,121

-27.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 254

Eggs

$3.55 JMD 556

$6.78 F CFA 3,822

-47.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 JMD 1,718

$18.03 F CFA 10.2K

-39.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 JMD 993

$15.65 F CFA 8,827

-59.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 JMD 1,207

$12.50 F CFA 7,051

-38.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 JMD 549

$3.89 F CFA 2,192

-10.03%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 484

$1.03 F CFA 579

200.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 JMD 423

$2.85 F CFA 1,605

-5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 JMD 274

$2.12 F CFA 1,198

-17.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 JMD 326

$1.34 F CFA 758

55.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.42 F CFA 803

-23.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 JMD 298

$0.09 F CFA 48.95

2011.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 JMD 152

$2.71 F CFA 1,526

-64.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.58 JMD 1,344

$0.91 F CFA 513

842.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 JMD 1,778

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 JMD 342

$1.54 F CFA 870

41.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 484

$1.62 F CFA 911

90.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 JMD 141

$4.63 F CFA 2,609

-80.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 JMD 154

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 JMD 501

$1.26 F CFA 710

153.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.32 JMD 990

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 194

$1.20 F CFA 678

3.33%

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

$43.5K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

$152 F CFA 85.8K

8.81%

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

$21.88 JMD 3,428

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.78 JMD 7,487

$56.9 F CFA 32.1K

-16.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 JMD 5,944

$68.7 F CFA 38.7K

-44.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.10 F CFA 2,315

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 JMD 1,188

$5.82 F CFA 3,283

30.24%

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

$63.5 JMD 9,946

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,906 JMD 298.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.39 JMD 4,135

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.08 JMD 3,146

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.8 JMD 10.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 JMD 11.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 JMD 40.9K

$173 F CFA 97.4K

51.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.7K

$81.1 F CFA 45.7K

456.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$655 JMD 102.7K

$402 F CFA 226.6K

63.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 JMD 68.8K

$299 F CFA 168.4K

46.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,246 F CFA 702.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$556 JMD 87.1K

$264 F CFA 148.6K

111.05%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bamako: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Montego Bay and $173 in Bamako. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montego Bay pays 111% 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 $356, 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 41% 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.

Montego Bay pays 111% more on average, 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: $261 in Montego Bay versus $173 in Bamako. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,298 per month in Montego Bay versus $918 in Bamako – a 41% 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 41% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.