Cost of Living Comparison Between Negril and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Negril and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Negril versus $634 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,358 in Negril versus $993 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,856 in Negril versus $1,351 in May Pen.

Living in Negril is roughly 35% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Negril 36% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 JMD 1,173

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 JMD 7,882

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

Cappuccino

$2.06 JMD 323

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

$1.32 JMD 208

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 JMD 389

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 487

Milk (1 liter)

$4.21 JMD 662

$2.21 JMD 348

90.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 JMD 549

$3.71 JMD 584

-5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 248

$3.15 JMD 496

-50.16%

Eggs

$3.41 JMD 536

$3.33 JMD 524

2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.85 JMD 1,707

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 JMD 989

$7.41 JMD 1,166

-15.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 JMD 1,206

$5.04 JMD 792

52.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 JMD 942

$1.58 JMD 249

279.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.03 JMD 476

$4.99 JMD 785

-39.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 JMD 675

$6.20 JMD 975

-30.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.93 JMD 461

$1.85 JMD 292

58.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 JMD 327

$1.91 JMD 301

8.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 JMD 307

$1.92 JMD 302

1.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.10 JMD 488

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 234

$2.89 JMD 455

-48.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 JMD 1,420

Wine (Bottle)

$11.59 JMD 1,823

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 JMD 439

$2.16 JMD 340

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 504

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 JMD 967

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.36 JMD 214

-5.88%

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

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

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

$22.38 JMD 3,520

$43.00 JMD 6,763

-47.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 JMD 8,121

$39.76 JMD 6,254

29.85%

Cinema Ticket

$13.20 JMD 2,076

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

$230 JMD 36.2K

$318 JMD 50.0K

-27.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,528 JMD 397.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 JMD 4,156

$15.93 JMD 2,505

65.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.97 JMD 4,085

$21.77 JMD 3,425

19.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 JMD 11.1K

$41.01 JMD 6,450

72.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

$53.7 JMD 8,440

44.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$984 JMD 154.7K

$177 JMD 27.8K

456.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 JMD 90.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 JMD 68.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for May Pen: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $984 in Negril and $177 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Negril. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making May Pen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,289 in Negril and $952 in May Pen 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: $984 in Negril versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $859 per month in Negril versus $634 in May Pen – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $634 in May Pen versus $859 in Negril, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Negril. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen 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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Negril. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.