Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and Yokneam Illit Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and Yokneam Illit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Montego Bay vs $2,345 in Yokneam Illit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,759 per month in Montego Bay vs $3,408 in Yokneam Illit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,231 per month in Montego Bay vs $4,472 in Yokneam Illit, rent included.

Montego Bay is about 45% cheaper than Yokneam Illit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Montego Bay sits 4% below the global median, while Yokneam Illit is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,212

$21.53 ₪64.0

-64.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 JMD 8,010

$85.2 ₪253

-40.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 JMD 1,150

$15.43 ₪45.83

-52.69%

Cappuccino

$4.38 JMD 690

$3.99 ₪11.85

9.77%

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

$1.37 JMD 217

$2.83 ₪8.40

-51.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$2.29 ₪6.80

-69.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 390

$8.34 ₪24.78

-70.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

$8.35 ₪24.81

-63.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.52 JMD 397

$1.98 ₪5.88

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 JMD 422

$2.78 ₪8.25

-3.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$2.80 ₪8.33

-43.93%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 566

$4.03 ₪11.96

-10.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 JMD 1,737

$16.71 ₪49.64

-33.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,013

$10.72 ₪31.84

-40.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 JMD 1,223

$21.79 ₪64.7

-64.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 531

$3.20 ₪9.49

5.31%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 487

$2.32 ₪6.89

33.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 JMD 447

$1.95 ₪5.78

45.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 JMD 278

$2.23 ₪6.63

-21.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 334

$1.44 ₪4.28

47.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.59 ₪4.74

-28.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 JMD 301

$1.91 ₪5.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 146

$1.59 ₪4.73

-41.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 JMD 1,356

$10.82 ₪32.14

-20.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,805

$15.84 ₪47.05

-27.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 JMD 332

$2.86 ₪8.50

-26.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 483

$3.52 ₪10.45

-13.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 JMD 146

$1.57 ₪4.67

-40.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.6 ₪204

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 JMD 146

$4.02 ₪11.93

-76.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 JMD 507

$0.81 ₪2.42

297.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 JMD 1,004

$32.62 ₪96.9

-80.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$1.98 ₪5.89

-37.37%

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

$42.3K JMD 6.7M

$39.9K ₪118.4K

6.11%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$47.7K ₪141.7K

-28.54%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$246 ₪732

-33.94%

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

$21.26 JMD 3,348

$12.59 ₪37.40

68.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.70 JMD 7,512

$29.89 ₪88.8

59.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 JMD 5,882

$66.3 ₪197

-43.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.56 ₪55.1

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 JMD 1,188

$12.28 ₪36.47

-38.60%

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

$62.6 JMD 9,854

$1,050 ₪3,120

-94.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,882 JMD 296.4K

$4,000 ₪11.9K

-52.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.12 JMD 4,113

$86.1 ₪256

-69.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.10 JMD 3,166

$54.4 ₪161

-63.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

$113 ₪336

-41.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

$161 ₪477

-52.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 JMD 40.4K

$1,038 ₪3,084

-75.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 JMD 72.6K

$941 ₪2,796

-51.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 JMD 105.3K

$1,553 ₪4,612

-56.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 JMD 67.9K

$1,420 ₪4,219

-69.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,098 ₪21.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$562 JMD 88.5K

$3,414 ₪10.1K

-83.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

105.66%

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

Last update for Montego Bay: April 25, 2026

Last update for Yokneam Illit: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Montego Bay versus $1,038 in Yokneam Illit. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 507% higher in Yokneam Illit, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Montego Bay versus $85.0 in Yokneam Illit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $380 – making Montego Bay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Yokneam Illit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yokneam Illit costs about 82% more than Montego Bay, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,931 per month in Montego Bay and $3,518 in Yokneam Illit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montego Bay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Montego Bay and $85.0 in Yokneam Illit. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Yokneam Illit, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Montego Bay, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Yokneam Illit at $2,345. In Montego Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yokneam Illit it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montego Bay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Montego Bay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yokneam Illit makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.