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: $1,287 in Montego Bay versus $632 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Montego Bay versus $986 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,231 in Montego Bay versus $1,339 in May Pen.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 4% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,212

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 JMD 8,010

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 JMD 1,150

Cappuccino

$4.38 JMD 690

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

$1.37 JMD 217

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 390

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 JMD 397

$2.22 JMD 349

13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 JMD 422

$3.67 JMD 578

-26.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$3.09 JMD 486

-49.19%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 566

$3.44 JMD 541

4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 JMD 1,737

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,013

$7.54 JMD 1,188

-14.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 JMD 1,223

$5.07 JMD 798

53.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 531

$1.54 JMD 242

118.83%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 487

$5.03 JMD 793

-38.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 JMD 447

$6.43 JMD 1,013

-55.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 JMD 278

$1.91 JMD 301

-7.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 334

$1.85 JMD 292

14.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.92 JMD 302

-41.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 JMD 301

$3.18 JMD 501

-39.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 146

$2.85 JMD 450

-67.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 JMD 1,356

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,805

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 JMD 332

$2.17 JMD 342

-2.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 483

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 JMD 146

$0.81 JMD 127

14.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 JMD 146

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 507

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 JMD 1,004

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$1.35 JMD 212

-8.15%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

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

$21.26 JMD 3,348

$42.07 JMD 6,626

-49.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.70 JMD 7,512

$38.96 JMD 6,136

22.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 JMD 5,882

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 JMD 1,188

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

$62.6 JMD 9,854

$310 JMD 48.9K

-79.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,882 JMD 296.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.12 JMD 4,113

$15.62 JMD 2,460

67.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.10 JMD 3,166

$22.03 JMD 3,469

-8.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

$40.34 JMD 6,352

64.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$53.8 JMD 8,468

41.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 JMD 40.4K

$176 JMD 27.8K

45.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 JMD 72.6K

$220 JMD 34.6K

109.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 JMD 105.3K

$557 JMD 87.7K

20.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 JMD 67.9K

$444 JMD 70.0K

-2.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 JMD 88.5K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for May Pen: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Montego Bay and $176 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 $1,931 in Montego Bay and $948 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: $257 in Montego Bay versus $176 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Montego Bay versus $632 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.