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: $1,160 in Montego Bay versus $905 in Bamako.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,128 in Montego Bay versus $1,482 in Bamako.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,097 in Montego Bay versus $2,059 in Bamako.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 28% more expensive than in Bamako, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 16% lower, Bamako 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 JMD 1,731

$8.39 F CFA 4,749

30.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.8 JMD 12.1K

$35.70 F CFA 20.2K

115.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 JMD 1,417

$8.01 F CFA 4,532

12.23%

Cappuccino

$5.21 JMD 822

$1.69 F CFA 954

208.28%

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

$0.89 JMD 140

$0.97 F CFA 551

-8.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

$0.69 F CFA 392

-1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 339

$2.35 F CFA 1,331

-8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 JMD 510

$21.04 F CFA 11.9K

-84.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.35 JMD 529

$1.95 F CFA 1,103

71.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 JMD 420

$3.80 F CFA 2,148

-30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 JMD 221

Eggs

$3.65 JMD 575

$6.00 F CFA 3,394

-39.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.27 JMD 1,776

$17.52 F CFA 9,911

-35.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 JMD 972

$15.86 F CFA 8,972

-61.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.09 JMD 1,432

$12.69 F CFA 7,177

-28.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.15 JMD 655

$3.93 F CFA 2,222

5.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 JMD 393

$1.07 F CFA 603

133.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.21 JMD 1,136

$2.85 F CFA 1,612

152.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 JMD 396

$2.05 F CFA 1,161

22.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 JMD 391

$1.19 F CFA 676

108.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 JMD 422

$1.18 F CFA 669

127.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 JMD 401

$0.11 F CFA 64.6

2209.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 JMD 121

$2.68 F CFA 1,517

-71.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.50 JMD 1,498

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 JMD 1,813

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 458

$1.55 F CFA 876

87.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 JMD 647

$1.64 F CFA 928

150.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 JMD 144

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 JMD 154

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 493

$1.21 F CFA 683

158.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 JMD 994

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 JMD 219

$1.12 F CFA 634

24.11%

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

$45.1K JMD 7.1M

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

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

$175 JMD 27.6K

$149 F CFA 84.1K

17.95%

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

$22.70 JMD 3,577

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.81 JMD 7,535

$63.8 F CFA 36.1K

-25.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.10 JMD 7,107

$70.0 F CFA 39.6K

-35.53%

Cinema Ticket

$8.77 JMD 1,382

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

$366 JMD 57.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,395 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.06 JMD 3,791

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.13 JMD 5,064

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 JMD 11.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 JMD 49.8K

$175 F CFA 99.1K

80.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 JMD 35.2K

$78.6 F CFA 44.5K

184.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$960 JMD 151.4K

$506 F CFA 286.2K

89.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.5K

$301 F CFA 170.3K

217.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,253 F CFA 708.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 JMD 94.4K

$265 F CFA 149.6K

126.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

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

Last update for Montego Bay: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bamako: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $316 in Montego Bay and $175 in Bamako. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montego Bay pays 126% 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: $77.0 in Montego Bay vs $36.00 in Bamako. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $349, 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 28% 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 126% 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: $316 in Montego Bay versus $175 in Bamako. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,160 per month in Montego Bay versus $905 in Bamako – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Montego Bay pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $905 in Bamako versus $1,160 in Montego Bay, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bamako but tight or insufficient in Montego Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Bamako 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 Bamako gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.