🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Montego Bay versus $1,471 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Montego Bay versus $2,446 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,231 in Montego Bay versus $3,420 in Kingston.
🙂Living in Montego Bay costs roughly 12% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Montego Bay is 4% below, Kingston is 10% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69JMD 1,212
$7.30JMD 1,150
5.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9JMD 8,010
$62.8JMD 9,889
-19.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.30JMD 1,150
$8.99JMD 1,416
-18.80%
Cappuccino
$4.38JMD 690
$4.36JMD 686
0.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37JMD 217
$1.36JMD 214
0.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71JMD 112
$0.75JMD 118
-5.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48JMD 390
$2.47JMD 388
0.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08JMD 485
$3.20JMD 503
-3.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.52JMD 397
$4.41JMD 695
-42.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68JMD 422
$3.58JMD 565
-25.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JMD 247
$1.61JMD 254
-2.48%
Eggs
$3.60JMD 566
$3.55JMD 559
1.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03JMD 1,737
$11.14JMD 1,754
-0.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43JMD 1,013
$6.45JMD 1,016
-0.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.77JMD 1,223
$7.54JMD 1,188
3.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37JMD 531
$6.15JMD 968
-45.20%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09JMD 487
$3.03JMD 477
1.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84JMD 447
$4.14JMD 652
-31.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76JMD 278
$2.96JMD 466
-40.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12JMD 334
$2.10JMD 331
0.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13JMD 178
$1.91JMD 301
-40.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91JMD 301
$3.07JMD 484
-37.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93JMD 146
$1.45JMD 228
-35.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.61JMD 1,356
$8.70JMD 1,371
-1.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.46JMD 1,805
$11.41JMD 1,796
0.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11JMD 332
$2.91JMD 458
-27.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06JMD 483
$3.07JMD 483
-0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93JMD 146
$0.88JMD 138
5.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$49.34JMD 7,771
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93JMD 146
$1.13JMD 177
-17.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 507
$3.25JMD 512
-0.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.37JMD 1,004
$6.08JMD 957
4.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24JMD 196
$1.28JMD 201
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3KJMD 6.7M
$43.4KJMD 6.8M
-2.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$33.2KJMD 5.2M
2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163JMD 25.6K
$163JMD 25.6K
0.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.26JMD 3,348
$22.50JMD 3,543
-5.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.70JMD 7,512
$51.1JMD 8,051
-6.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.35JMD 5,882
$69.8JMD 11.0K
-46.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.48JMD 2,438
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.54JMD 1,188
$13.13JMD 2,068
-42.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.6JMD 9,854
$228JMD 36.0K
-72.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,882JMD 296.4K
$2,527JMD 398.0K
-25.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.12JMD 4,113
$26.50JMD 4,174
-1.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.10JMD 3,166
$25.86JMD 4,073
-22.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.2JMD 10.4K
$71.8JMD 11.3K
-7.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8JMD 11.9K
$77.6JMD 12.2K
-2.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257JMD 40.4K
$877JMD 138.1K
-70.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461JMD 72.6K
$449JMD 70.7K
2.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669JMD 105.3K
$2,018JMD 317.8K
-66.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431JMD 67.9K
$1,213JMD 191.0K
-64.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,865JMD 451.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,208JMD 347.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montego Bay
Kingston
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$562JMD 88.5K
$734JMD 115.6K
-23.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
9.15
-12.57%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Montego Bay: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Kingston: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Montego Bay and $877 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston pays 31% 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: $51.0 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.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Montego Bay vs Kingston: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Montego Bay or Kingston?
Montego Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 14% 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.
Are salaries higher in Montego Bay or Kingston?
On paper, Kingston earns 31% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montego Bay vs Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Montego Bay versus $877 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montego Bay or Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Montego Bay compared to Kingston?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Montego Bay versus $1,471 in Kingston – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montego Bay or Kingston?
At $1,287 in Montego Bay versus $1,471 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Montego Bay or Kingston?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montego Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montego Bay vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado