Cost of Living Comparison Between Negril and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Negril and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$7.46 JMD 1,173
$7.54 JMD 1,186
-1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 JMD 7,882
$63.3 JMD 9,964
-20.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.56 JMD 1,347
$8.76 JMD 1,378
-2.28%
Cappuccino
$2.06 JMD 323
$4.44 JMD 699
-53.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 JMD 208
$1.31 JMD 206
0.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 JMD 119
$0.69 JMD 109
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 JMD 389
$2.57 JMD 404
-3.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 JMD 487
$3.08 JMD 485
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.21 JMD 662
$4.32 JMD 680
-2.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.49 JMD 549
$3.54 JMD 557
-1.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 JMD 248
$1.61 JMD 253
-2.48%
Eggs
$3.41 JMD 536
$3.50 JMD 550
-2.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.85 JMD 1,707
$11.10 JMD 1,746
-2.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.29 JMD 989
$6.50 JMD 1,022
-3.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.67 JMD 1,206
$7.79 JMD 1,225
-1.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.99 JMD 942
$6.15 JMD 967
-2.60%
Banana (1kg)
$3.03 JMD 476
$3.06 JMD 481
-0.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.29 JMD 675
$4.33 JMD 681
-0.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.93 JMD 461
$3.00 JMD 472
-2.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 JMD 327
$2.05 JMD 322
1.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 JMD 307
$1.91 JMD 301
2.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 JMD 484
$3.13 JMD 492
-1.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 JMD 234
$1.45 JMD 228
2.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03 JMD 1,420
$9.00 JMD 1,416
0.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.59 JMD 1,823
$11.59 JMD 1,824
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 JMD 439
$2.86 JMD 450
-2.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 JMD 504
$3.08 JMD 485
3.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Negril
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.89 JMD 140
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$49.88 JMD 7,845
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 JMD 171
$1.08 JMD 170
0.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.24 JMD 510
$3.16 JMD 497
2.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.15 JMD 967
$6.17 JMD 971
-0.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 JMD 201
$1.24 JMD 195
3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9K JMD 6.7M
$42.8K JMD 6.7M
0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K JMD 5.4M
$33.5K JMD 5.3M
1.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 JMD 25.8K
$165 JMD 25.9K
-0.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.38 JMD 3,520
$21.76 JMD 3,423
2.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.6 JMD 8,121
$51.9 JMD 8,163
-0.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$69.4 JMD 10.9K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.47 JMD 2,434
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.20 JMD 2,076
$13.21 JMD 2,078
-0.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 JMD 36.2K
$228 JMD 35.9K
0.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,528 JMD 397.6K
$2,456 JMD 386.3K
2.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.42 JMD 4,156
$26.42 JMD 4,156
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.97 JMD 4,085
$25.61 JMD 4,028
1.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 JMD 11.1K
$69.9 JMD 11.0K
1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4 JMD 12.2K
$77.6 JMD 12.2K
-0.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Negril
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$984 JMD 154.7K
$886 JMD 139.4K
11.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$446 JMD 70.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,996 JMD 313.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,214 JMD 190.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,824 JMD 444.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,167 JMD 340.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Negril
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$754 JMD 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.

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