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: $861 in Negril versus $1,461 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Negril versus $2,447 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,842 in Negril versus $3,432 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,156

$7.37 JMD 1,167

-0.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 JMD 7,977

$61.9 JMD 9,795

-18.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 JMD 1,418

$8.89 JMD 1,407

0.79%

Cappuccino

$1.97 JMD 311

$4.39 JMD 695

-55.13%

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

$1.35 JMD 214

$1.38 JMD 218

-2.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.71 JMD 112

7.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 393

$2.44 JMD 387

1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 485

$3.16 JMD 500

-2.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.19 JMD 663

$4.33 JMD 686

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 JMD 557

$3.66 JMD 579

-3.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$1.57 JMD 249

2.55%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 548

$3.43 JMD 543

1.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,757

$10.85 JMD 1,717

2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 JMD 986

$6.53 JMD 1,033

-4.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.73 JMD 1,223

$7.43 JMD 1,177

4.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 JMD 960

$6.10 JMD 965

-0.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 474

$3.08 JMD 488

-2.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 661

$4.12 JMD 653

1.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 482

$2.92 JMD 462

4.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 333

$2.01 JMD 319

4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 318

$1.98 JMD 314

1.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 496

$2.99 JMD 473

4.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$1.46 JMD 230

-1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 JMD 1,428

$8.64 JMD 1,367

4.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 JMD 1,799

$11.31 JMD 1,790

0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 440

$2.86 JMD 453

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 501

$3.21 JMD 508

-1.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 137

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.18 JMD 7,626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

$1.12 JMD 178

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 495

$3.25 JMD 514

-3.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 JMD 972

$6.43 JMD 1,018

-4.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 JMD 205

$1.22 JMD 194

5.74%

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

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

-0.61%

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

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

0.91%

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

$164 JMD 26.0K

$160 JMD 25.4K

2.30%

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

$22.52 JMD 3,564

$21.77 JMD 3,445

3.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,105

$51.2 JMD 8,096

0.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.70 JMD 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 JMD 2,050

$12.94 JMD 2,049

0.08%

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

$230 JMD 36.4K

$230 JMD 36.5K

-0.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 397.6K

$2,450 JMD 387.7K

2.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.57 JMD 4,047

$26.54 JMD 4,200

-3.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 JMD 4,015

$25.83 JMD 4,087

-1.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

$72.3 JMD 11.4K

-0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 JMD 12.3K

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,011 JMD 160.0K

$886 JMD 140.2K

14.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 JMD 71.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 319.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 188.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,809 JMD 444.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,237 JMD 354.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$750 JMD 118.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

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

Last update for Negril: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,011 in Negril and $886 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50 in Negril vs $62 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $350 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 70% 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 $1,292 in Negril and $2,192 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: $1,011 in Negril versus $886 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Negril versus $1,461 in Kingston – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Negril versus $1,461 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 70% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.