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: $948 in Negril versus $1,702 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Negril versus $2,853 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,016 in Negril versus $4,004 in Kingston.

Living in Negril costs roughly 44% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Negril is 31% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 JMD 1,476

$15.79 JMD 2,481

-40.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 JMD 7,981

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

-32.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 JMD 1,403

$8.56 JMD 1,345

4.32%

Cappuccino

$2.05 JMD 322

$5.40 JMD 848

-62.04%

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

$1.24 JMD 195

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 JMD 115

$0.70 JMD 109

4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 JMD 354

$2.21 JMD 348

1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.18 JMD 500

0.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 663

$4.25 JMD 667

-0.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 JMD 561

$3.68 JMD 578

-2.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 565

$3.44 JMD 540

4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 JMD 1,777

$11.60 JMD 1,822

-2.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 JMD 972

$6.41 JMD 1,007

-3.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.20 JMD 1,602

$10.16 JMD 1,596

0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.22 JMD 977

$6.16 JMD 967

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$4.01 JMD 629

$4.00 JMD 629

0.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,186

$7.30 JMD 1,147

3.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 466

$2.97 JMD 467

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 JMD 519

$3.25 JMD 511

1.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 JMD 419

$2.70 JMD 424

-1.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 JMD 471

$3.15 JMD 495

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$1.49 JMD 233

-2.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.53 JMD 1,497

$9.17 JMD 1,440

3.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.53 JMD 1,812

$11.16 JMD 1,754

3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 447

$2.81 JMD 442

1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 JMD 626

$3.95 JMD 621

1.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 JMD 191

$1.23 JMD 193

-1.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 511

$3.10 JMD 486

4.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 970

$6.23 JMD 979

-0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 JMD 219

$1.39 JMD 218

0.72%

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

$44.1K JMD 6.9M

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

-1.04%

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

$32.7K JMD 5.1M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

-0.60%

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

$175 JMD 27.5K

$178 JMD 28.0K

-1.61%

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

$29.72 JMD 4,669

$29.81 JMD 4,682

-0.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 JMD 8,448

$52.5 JMD 8,241

2.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.46 JMD 2,114

$13.15 JMD 2,065

2.36%

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

$367 JMD 57.6K

$357 JMD 56.1K

2.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,347 JMD 1.3M

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

2.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.68 JMD 3,719

$23.41 JMD 3,678

1.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.28 JMD 4,914

$31.32 JMD 4,919

-0.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 JMD 12.4K

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

-0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 JMD 158.7K

$955 JMD 150.1K

5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 JMD 116.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

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

Last update for Negril: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Negril and $955 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $51.0 in Negril vs $76.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $384 vs $386 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

Negril wins on cost – living expenses run 80% 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.

You'd need roughly $1,422 in Negril and $2,554 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,010 in Negril versus $955 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $948 per month in Negril versus $1,702 in Kingston – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $948 in Negril versus $1,702 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.

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.

Expats usually find Negril gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.