Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,295 in Montego Bay versus $635 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,753 in Montego Bay versus $987 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,210 in Montego Bay versus $1,340 in May Pen.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 104% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 3% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,188

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 JMD 7,898

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 JMD 1,215

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

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

$1.32 JMD 209

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 JMD 390

$2.23 JMD 352

10.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 JMD 444

$3.85 JMD 606

-26.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$3.15 JMD 496

-49.21%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 544

$3.42 JMD 539

1.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,752

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$7.46 JMD 1,174

-13.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 JMD 1,211

$4.88 JMD 769

57.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 JMD 528

$1.53 JMD 242

118.95%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$5.16 JMD 812

-39.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$6.36 JMD 1,002

-56.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 JMD 281

$1.83 JMD 289

-2.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$1.84 JMD 289

10.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 177

$1.92 JMD 302

-41.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 JMD 290

$3.07 JMD 483

-40.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 147

$2.89 JMD 455

-67.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 JMD 1,386

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,758

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 JMD 334

$2.13 JMD 336

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 145

$0.83 JMD 131

10.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 152

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 966

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$1.37 JMD 215

-10.22%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

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

$21.61 JMD 3,404

$41.82 JMD 6,586

-48.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.06 JMD 7,569

$39.20 JMD 6,173

22.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 JMD 5,869

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 JMD 1,192

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

$62.7 JMD 9,870

$316 JMD 49.8K

-80.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.57 JMD 4,185

$15.93 JMD 2,508

66.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 JMD 3,083

$21.61 JMD 3,404

-9.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

$40.16 JMD 6,324

65.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

$53.5 JMD 8,419

42.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 JMD 41.7K

$177 JMD 27.9K

49.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.6K

$215 JMD 33.9K

108.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 JMD 104.3K

$563 JMD 88.7K

17.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.3K

$442 JMD 69.6K

1.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 87.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Last update for May Pen: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Montego Bay and $177 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 104% lower than in Montego Bay. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making May Pen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,943 in Montego Bay and $952 in May Pen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Montego Bay versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,295 per month in Montego Bay versus $635 in May Pen – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Montego Bay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though May Pen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.