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: $1,314 in Montego Bay versus $1,454 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,787 in Montego Bay versus $2,432 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,261 in Montego Bay versus $3,409 in Kingston.

Living in Montego Bay costs roughly 10% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montego Bay is 2% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 JMD 7,905

$63.3 JMD 9,962

-20.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 JMD 1,161

$8.76 JMD 1,378

-15.75%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.44 JMD 699

-2.93%

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

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.31 JMD 206

1.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.69 JMD 109

10.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

$2.57 JMD 404

-5.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.08 JMD 485

3.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 JMD 397

$4.32 JMD 680

-41.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 JMD 434

$3.54 JMD 557

-22.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

$1.61 JMD 253

1.24%

Eggs

$3.56 JMD 559

$3.50 JMD 550

1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 JMD 1,721

$11.10 JMD 1,745

-1.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,014

$6.50 JMD 1,022

-0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 JMD 1,189

$7.79 JMD 1,225

-2.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 JMD 537

$6.15 JMD 967

-44.39%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 494

$3.06 JMD 481

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 JMD 427

$4.33 JMD 681

-37.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 JMD 275

$3.00 JMD 472

-41.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$2.05 JMD 322

-0.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.91 JMD 301

-40.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 JMD 301

$3.13 JMD 492

-38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 JMD 149

$1.45 JMD 228

-34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 JMD 1,420

$9.00 JMD 1,416

0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.28 JMD 1,773

$11.59 JMD 1,823

-2.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 JMD 332

$2.86 JMD 449

-26.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 497

$3.08 JMD 485

2.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 JMD 151

$0.89 JMD 140

7.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,844

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 JMD 143

$1.08 JMD 170

-15.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 505

$3.16 JMD 497

1.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 JMD 1,006

$6.17 JMD 971

3.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 JMD 203

$1.24 JMD 195

4.03%

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

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

1.92%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

0.60%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$165 JMD 25.9K

-1.18%

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

$21.15 JMD 3,327

$21.76 JMD 3,422

-2.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.83 JMD 7,522

$51.9 JMD 8,162

-7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.84 JMD 5,952

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

-45.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,433

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 JMD 1,188

$13.21 JMD 2,078

-42.85%

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

$63.0 JMD 9,903

$228 JMD 35.9K

-72.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

$2,456 JMD 386.2K

-22.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.80 JMD 4,057

$26.42 JMD 4,156

-2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.75 JMD 3,106

$25.61 JMD 4,028

-22.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

-4.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

-3.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 JMD 41.8K

$886 JMD 139.4K

-70.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.4K

$446 JMD 70.2K

0.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 JMD 102.0K

$1,996 JMD 313.9K

-67.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 JMD 69.6K

$1,214 JMD 190.8K

-63.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 444.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 86.8K

$754 JMD 118.6K

-26.83%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Montego Bay and $886 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 37% 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 $63.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $353 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montego Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 11% 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, Kingston earns 37% less. 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: $266 in Montego Bay versus $886 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,314 per month in Montego Bay versus $1,454 in Kingston – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,314 in Montego Bay versus $1,454 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 11% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.