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

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