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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,166 in Montego Bay versus $1,706 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Montego Bay versus $2,847 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,136 in Montego Bay versus $3,988 in Kingston.

Living in Montego Bay costs roughly 32% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montego Bay is 15% below, Kingston is 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.17 JMD 1,753

$15.99 JMD 2,509

-30.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.3 JMD 12.1K

$75.5 JMD 11.8K

2.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 JMD 1,363

$8.66 JMD 1,359

0.35%

Cappuccino

$5.50 JMD 863

$5.31 JMD 833

3.58%

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

$0.94 JMD 147

$1.20 JMD 188

-21.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$0.67 JMD 106

4.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 JMD 356

$2.19 JMD 344

3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 483

$3.20 JMD 503

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.40 JMD 534

$4.10 JMD 643

-17.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 JMD 424

$3.89 JMD 610

-30.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 JMD 220

$1.59 JMD 249

-11.95%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 565

$3.55 JMD 557

1.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 JMD 1,773

$11.67 JMD 1,832

-3.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 981

$6.44 JMD 1,011

-2.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.17 JMD 1,438

$10.24 JMD 1,607

-10.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 656

$6.18 JMD 970

-32.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 JMD 392

$3.87 JMD 608

-35.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 JMD 1,181

$7.50 JMD 1,176

0.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 JMD 388

$3.07 JMD 482

-19.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 JMD 388

$3.37 JMD 528

-26.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 430

$2.72 JMD 427

0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 JMD 397

$3.12 JMD 490

-18.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 JMD 130

$1.52 JMD 239

-45.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.48 JMD 1,487

$9.54 JMD 1,497

-0.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 JMD 1,774

$11.43 JMD 1,793

-1.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 445

$2.80 JMD 440

1.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 JMD 614

$4.09 JMD 641

-4.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 144

$0.76 JMD 119

21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.96 JMD 5,955

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 151

$1.17 JMD 183

-17.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 496

$3.21 JMD 504

-1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 984

$6.25 JMD 981

0.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.42 JMD 223

-6.34%

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

$45.0K JMD 7.1M

$44.6K JMD 7.0M

0.78%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

1.03%

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

$176 JMD 27.6K

$172 JMD 27.1K

1.93%

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

$22.70 JMD 3,561

$29.30 JMD 4,596

-22.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 JMD 7,640

$52.1 JMD 8,176

-6.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.86 JMD 6,881

$61.6 JMD 9,668

-28.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.13 JMD 2,844

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 JMD 1,338

$13.19 JMD 2,070

-35.33%

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

$362 JMD 56.8K

$362 JMD 56.7K

0.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$8,377 JMD 1.3M

-2.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.95 JMD 3,757

$23.49 JMD 3,685

1.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.22 JMD 4,899

$32.14 JMD 5,042

-2.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 JMD 10.9K

$79.8 JMD 12.5K

-13.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.1K

$102 JMD 16.0K

0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 JMD 49.4K

$981 JMD 153.9K

-67.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

$566 JMD 88.8K

-60.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 JMD 151.2K

$2,130 JMD 334.2K

-54.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 JMD 152.1K

$1,384 JMD 217.1K

-29.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,880 JMD 451.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,071 JMD 324.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 JMD 94.9K

$739 JMD 116.0K

-18.13%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Montego Bay and $981 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 22% 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 $75.0 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $330 vs $389, 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montego Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montego Bay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Kingston. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Montego Bay versus $981 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,166 per month in Montego Bay versus $1,706 in Kingston – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,166 in Montego Bay versus $1,706 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Montego Bay but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.