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: $1,166 in Montego Bay versus $737 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Montego Bay versus $833 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,136 in Montego Bay versus $929 in May Pen.

Living in Montego Bay is roughly 58% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montego Bay 15% lower, May Pen 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.17 JMD 1,753

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.3 JMD 12.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 JMD 1,363

Cappuccino

$5.50 JMD 863

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

$0.94 JMD 147

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 JMD 356

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 483

Milk (1 liter)

$3.40 JMD 534

$2.20 JMD 345

54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 JMD 424

$3.83 JMD 601

-29.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 JMD 220

$3.22 JMD 506

-56.52%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 565

$3.36 JMD 527

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 JMD 1,773

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 981

$7.46 JMD 1,170

-16.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.17 JMD 1,438

$4.92 JMD 772

86.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 656

$1.57 JMD 247

166.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 JMD 392

$4.99 JMD 783

-49.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 JMD 1,181

$6.25 JMD 980

20.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 JMD 388

$1.95 JMD 305

27.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 JMD 388

$1.88 JMD 295

31.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 430

$1.95 JMD 307

40.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 JMD 397

$3.10 JMD 487

-18.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 JMD 130

$2.82 JMD 442

-70.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.48 JMD 1,487

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 JMD 1,774

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 445

$2.26 JMD 355

25.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 JMD 614

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 144

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 151

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 496

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 984

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.35 JMD 212

-1.48%

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

$45.0K JMD 7.1M

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

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

$176 JMD 27.6K

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

$22.70 JMD 3,561

$42.36 JMD 6,646

-46.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 JMD 7,640

$53.0 JMD 8,313

-8.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.86 JMD 6,881

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 JMD 1,338

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

$362 JMD 56.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.95 JMD 3,757

$15.60 JMD 2,448

53.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.22 JMD 4,899

$21.83 JMD 3,424

43.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 JMD 10.9K

$41.48 JMD 6,507

67.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.1K

$54.5 JMD 8,546

88.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 JMD 49.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

$284 JMD 44.5K

-22.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 JMD 151.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 JMD 152.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 JMD 94.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

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

Last update for Montego Bay: September 13, 2026

Last update for May Pen: September 12, 2026

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 58% 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 $1,749 in Montego Bay and $1,105 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Montego Bay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,166 per month in Montego Bay versus $737 in May Pen – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $737 in May Pen versus $1,166 in Montego Bay, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Montego Bay. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen 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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Montego Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.