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: $861 in Negril versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,352 in Negril versus $987 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,842 in Negril versus $1,328 in May Pen.

Living in Negril is roughly 33% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Negril 36% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,156

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 JMD 7,977

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 JMD 1,418

Cappuccino

$1.97 JMD 311

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

$1.35 JMD 214

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 393

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 485

Milk (1 liter)

$4.19 JMD 663

$2.23 JMD 353

87.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 JMD 557

$3.84 JMD 608

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$3.10 JMD 491

-48.06%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 548

$3.28 JMD 519

5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 JMD 1,757

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 JMD 986

$7.58 JMD 1,199

-17.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.73 JMD 1,223

$4.98 JMD 788

55.22%

Apples (1kg)

$6.06 JMD 960

$1.55 JMD 245

290.97%

Banana (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 474

$5.13 JMD 811

-41.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 661

$6.27 JMD 993

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 482

$1.86 JMD 294

63.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 333

$1.84 JMD 291

14.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 318

$1.91 JMD 303

5.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 496

$3.20 JMD 507

-2.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$2.77 JMD 438

-48.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 JMD 1,428

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 JMD 1,799

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 440

$2.16 JMD 342

28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 501

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 172

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 495

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 JMD 972

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 JMD 205

$1.37 JMD 217

-5.84%

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

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

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

$164 JMD 26.0K

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

$22.52 JMD 3,564

$42.21 JMD 6,681

-46.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 JMD 8,105

$38.52 JMD 6,097

32.94%

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 JMD 2,050

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

$230 JMD 36.4K

$316 JMD 50.0K

-27.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,512 JMD 397.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.57 JMD 4,047

$15.94 JMD 2,523

60.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 JMD 4,015

$21.48 JMD 3,400

18.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

$41.08 JMD 6,502

74.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.5 JMD 12.3K

$52.9 JMD 8,377

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,011 JMD 160.0K

$172 JMD 27.2K

487.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$215 JMD 34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 JMD 89.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 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: April 13, 2026

Last update for May Pen: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,011 in Negril and $172 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50 in Negril vs $0 in May Pen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 vs $278 per month, with May Pen 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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 33% 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 $1,292 in Negril and $968 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: $1,011 in Negril versus $172 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Negril versus $646 in May Pen – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $646 in May Pen versus $861 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 33% less than in Negril. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.