🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Negril versus $1,454 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,358 in Negril versus $2,432 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,856 in Negril versus $3,409 in Kingston.
🙂Living in Negril costs roughly 41% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Negril is 36% below, Kingston is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46JMD 1,173
$7.54JMD 1,186
-1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1JMD 7,882
$63.3JMD 9,964
-20.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.56JMD 1,347
$8.76JMD 1,378
-2.28%
Cappuccino
$2.06JMD 323
$4.44JMD 699
-53.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32JMD 208
$1.31JMD 206
0.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76JMD 119
$0.69JMD 109
10.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47JMD 389
$2.57JMD 404
-3.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09JMD 487
$3.08JMD 485
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.21JMD 662
$4.32JMD 680
-2.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49JMD 549
$3.54JMD 557
-1.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JMD 248
$1.61JMD 253
-2.48%
Eggs
$3.41JMD 536
$3.50JMD 550
-2.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.85JMD 1,707
$11.10JMD 1,746
-2.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.29JMD 989
$6.50JMD 1,022
-3.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67JMD 1,206
$7.79JMD 1,225
-1.54%
Apples(1kg)
$5.99JMD 942
$6.15JMD 967
-2.60%
Banana(1kg)
$3.03JMD 476
$3.06JMD 481
-0.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.29JMD 675
$4.33JMD 681
-0.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.93JMD 461
$3.00JMD 472
-2.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08JMD 327
$2.05JMD 322
1.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95JMD 307
$1.91JMD 301
2.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.07JMD 484
$3.13JMD 492
-1.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49JMD 234
$1.45JMD 228
2.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03JMD 1,420
$9.00JMD 1,416
0.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.59JMD 1,823
$11.59JMD 1,824
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79JMD 439
$2.86JMD 450
-2.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20JMD 504
$3.08JMD 485
3.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Negril
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89JMD 140
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$49.88JMD 7,845
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09JMD 171
$1.08JMD 170
0.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.24JMD 510
$3.16JMD 497
2.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.15JMD 967
$6.17JMD 971
-0.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28JMD 201
$1.24JMD 195
3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9KJMD 6.7M
$42.8KJMD 6.7M
0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$33.5KJMD 5.3M
1.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164JMD 25.8K
$165JMD 25.9K
-0.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.38JMD 3,520
$21.76JMD 3,423
2.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.6JMD 8,121
$51.9JMD 8,163
-0.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$69.4JMD 10.9K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.47JMD 2,434
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.20JMD 2,076
$13.21JMD 2,078
-0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230JMD 36.2K
$228JMD 35.9K
0.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,528JMD 397.6K
$2,456JMD 386.3K
2.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.42JMD 4,156
$26.42JMD 4,156
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.97JMD 4,085
$25.61JMD 4,028
1.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8JMD 11.1K
$69.9JMD 11.0K
1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4JMD 12.2K
$77.6JMD 12.2K
-0.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Negril
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984JMD 154.7K
$886JMD 139.4K
11.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446JMD 70.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,996JMD 313.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,214JMD 190.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,824JMD 444.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,167JMD 340.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$754JMD 118.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
9.15
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Negril: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kingston: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $984 in Negril and $886 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Negril vs $63.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $353 per month, with Negril cheaper across the board.
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
Negril vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Negril or Kingston?
Negril wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negril the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Negril vs Kingston?
You'd need roughly $1,289 in Negril and $2,180 in Kingston 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Negril vs Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $984 in Negril versus $886 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Negril or Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% 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 Negril compared to Kingston?
All in, you'll spend $859 per month in Negril versus $1,454 in Kingston – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Negril or Kingston?
At $859 in Negril versus $1,454 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Negril but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Negril the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Negril 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 Negril gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.