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: $870 in Negril versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,358 in Negril versus $1,005 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,846 in Negril versus $1,364 in May Pen.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Negril 35% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 JMD 1,195

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.34 JMD 7,770

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.00 JMD 1,418

Cappuccino

$1.97 JMD 310

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)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 482

Milk (1 liter)

$4.40 JMD 693

$2.13 JMD 335

106.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 JMD 546

$3.66 JMD 577

-5.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$3.17 JMD 499

-50.47%

Eggs

$3.56 JMD 560

$3.29 JMD 517

8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 JMD 1,732

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 JMD 985

$7.59 JMD 1,195

-17.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 JMD 1,229

$4.89 JMD 769

59.71%

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 JMD 956

$1.55 JMD 244

291.61%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$5.15 JMD 811

-39.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 JMD 671

$6.24 JMD 983

-31.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 JMD 458

$1.92 JMD 303

51.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 317

$1.84 JMD 289

9.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 315

$1.92 JMD 302

4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 JMD 483

$3.18 JMD 501

-3.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 227

$2.79 JMD 440

-48.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.57 JMD 1,350

Wine (Bottle)

$11.42 JMD 1,799

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 JMD 443

$2.22 JMD 350

26.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 485

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 JMD 132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 JMD 493

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 JMD 200

$1.36 JMD 215

-6.62%

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

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

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

$165 JMD 26.0K

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

$22.25 JMD 3,505

$42.30 JMD 6,661

-47.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.0 JMD 8,024

$39.33 JMD 6,194

29.54%

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 JMD 2,057

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

$230 JMD 36.2K

$316 JMD 49.7K

-27.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,500 JMD 393.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.79 JMD 4,061

$15.55 JMD 2,448

65.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.48 JMD 4,013

$22.02 JMD 3,467

15.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 JMD 11.4K

$40.24 JMD 6,336

79.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 JMD 11.8K

$53.4 JMD 8,416

39.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 JMD 158.0K

$174 JMD 27.4K

477.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 JMD 34.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 JMD 89.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.4K

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for May Pen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Negril and $174 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 $1,305 in Negril and $970 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: $1,003 in Negril versus $174 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Negril versus $646 in May Pen – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Negril. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $646 in May Pen versus $870 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.