🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Negril versus $1,468 in Kingston.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,358 in Negril versus $2,461 in Kingston.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,846 in Negril versus $3,454 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 35% below, Kingston is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59JMD 1,195
$7.60JMD 1,197
-0.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.34JMD 7,770
$61.6JMD 9,701
-19.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00JMD 1,418
$8.56JMD 1,347
5.14%
Cappuccino
$1.97JMD 310
$4.31JMD 678
-54.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32JMD 208
$1.32JMD 208
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76JMD 119
$0.75JMD 118
1.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.46JMD 388
$2.43JMD 383
1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06JMD 482
$3.08JMD 484
-0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.40JMD 693
$4.38JMD 690
0.46%
White Bread(500g)
$3.47JMD 546
$3.64JMD 574
-4.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JMD 247
$1.56JMD 245
0.64%
Eggs
$3.56JMD 560
$3.46JMD 545
2.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.00JMD 1,732
$11.02JMD 1,736
-0.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26JMD 985
$6.46JMD 1,017
-3.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81JMD 1,229
$7.55JMD 1,189
3.44%
Apples(1kg)
$6.07JMD 956
$5.86JMD 923
3.58%
Banana(1kg)
$3.14JMD 495
$3.10JMD 488
1.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.26JMD 671
$4.14JMD 652
2.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91JMD 458
$3.04JMD 479
-4.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01JMD 317
$2.10JMD 330
-4.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00JMD 315
$1.93JMD 304
3.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.07JMD 483
$3.06JMD 482
0.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44JMD 227
$1.48JMD 233
-2.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.57JMD 1,350
$8.93JMD 1,407
-4.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.42JMD 1,799
$11.39JMD 1,793
0.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81JMD 443
$2.81JMD 442
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08JMD 485
$3.18JMD 501
-3.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Negril
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.81JMD 127
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$48.50JMD 7,638
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09JMD 171
$1.11JMD 175
-1.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.13JMD 493
$3.25JMD 513
-3.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22JMD 979
$6.22JMD 979
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27JMD 200
$1.23JMD 194
3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.0KJMD 6.8M
$42.1KJMD 6.6M
2.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KJMD 5.3M
$33.0KJMD 5.2M
2.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165JMD 26.0K
$165JMD 25.9K
0.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.25JMD 3,505
$22.23JMD 3,501
0.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0JMD 8,024
$51.2JMD 8,057
-0.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$69.7JMD 11.0K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.55JMD 2,449
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.06JMD 2,057
$13.17JMD 2,074
-0.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230JMD 36.2K
$229JMD 36.1K
0.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,500JMD 393.7K
$2,465JMD 388.2K
1.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.79JMD 4,061
$25.76JMD 4,057
0.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.48JMD 4,013
$25.21JMD 3,970
1.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.2JMD 11.4K
$69.6JMD 11.0K
3.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8JMD 11.8K
$75.4JMD 11.9K
-0.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Negril
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003JMD 158.0K
$878JMD 138.3K
14.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$451JMD 71.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020JMD 318.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,214JMD 191.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,815JMD 443.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,200JMD 346.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$754JMD 118.7K
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Kingston: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Negril and $878 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Negril vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $351 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 and in Kingston?
You'd need roughly $1,305 in Negril and $2,202 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 compared to Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Negril versus $878 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Negril or in Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% 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 $870 per month in Negril versus $1,468 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 in Kingston?
At $870 in Negril versus $1,468 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.