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: $1,295 in Montego Bay versus $1,459 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,753 in Montego Bay versus $2,444 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,210 in Montego Bay versus $3,429 in Kingston.

Living in Montego Bay costs roughly 11% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montego Bay is 3% below, Kingston is 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,188

$7.57 JMD 1,192

-0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 JMD 7,898

$63.2 JMD 9,947

-20.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 JMD 1,215

$8.95 JMD 1,409

-13.74%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$4.46 JMD 703

-3.36%

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

$1.32 JMD 209

$1.37 JMD 216

-3.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.75 JMD 118

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

$2.43 JMD 383

1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.14 JMD 495

-2.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 JMD 390

$4.18 JMD 659

-40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 JMD 444

$3.54 JMD 558

-20.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$1.54 JMD 243

3.90%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 544

$3.52 JMD 555

-1.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,752

$11.04 JMD 1,738

0.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$6.48 JMD 1,021

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 JMD 1,211

$7.81 JMD 1,229

-1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 JMD 528

$5.95 JMD 938

-43.70%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$4.33 JMD 682

-36.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 JMD 281

$2.92 JMD 460

-38.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$2.09 JMD 329

-2.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 177

$2.02 JMD 319

-44.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 JMD 290

$2.97 JMD 468

-38.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 147

$1.44 JMD 227

-35.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 JMD 1,386

$8.72 JMD 1,373

0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,758

$11.29 JMD 1,779

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 JMD 334

$2.78 JMD 438

-23.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 145

$0.82 JMD 130

12.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.33 JMD 7,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 152

$1.07 JMD 168

-10.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

$3.20 JMD 503

1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 966

$6.39 JMD 1,006

-4.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

-0.71%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

-3.07%

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

-0.01%

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

$21.61 JMD 3,404

$21.77 JMD 3,428

-0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.06 JMD 7,569

$51.7 JMD 8,143

-7.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 JMD 5,869

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

-46.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.93 JMD 2,509

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$13.03 JMD 2,052

-41.90%

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

$62.7 JMD 9,870

$223 JMD 35.1K

-71.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

$2,512 JMD 395.6K

-26.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.57 JMD 4,185

$25.87 JMD 4,074

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 JMD 3,083

$25.40 JMD 4,001

-22.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

-4.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

-0.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 JMD 41.7K

$909 JMD 143.2K

-70.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.6K

$463 JMD 72.9K

-3.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 JMD 104.3K

$2,028 JMD 319.4K

-67.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.3K

$1,174 JMD 184.9K

-61.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 JMD 438.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,164 JMD 340.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 87.0K

$733 JMD 115.4K

-24.62%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Montego Bay and $909 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 33% 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 $349 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 13% 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 33% 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: $265 in Montego Bay versus $909 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,295 per month in Montego Bay versus $1,459 in Kingston – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,295 in Montego Bay versus $1,459 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 13% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.