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: $948 in Negril versus $730 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Negril versus $817 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,016 in Negril versus $903 in May Pen.

Living in Negril is roughly 30% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Negril 31% lower, May Pen 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.40 JMD 1,476

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 JMD 7,981

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 JMD 1,403

Cappuccino

$2.05 JMD 322

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

$1.24 JMD 195

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 JMD 115

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 JMD 354

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 663

$2.17 JMD 342

94.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 JMD 561

$3.88 JMD 609

-7.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$3.13 JMD 492

-48.24%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 565

$3.51 JMD 551

2.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 JMD 1,777

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 JMD 972

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-20.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.20 JMD 1,602

$4.90 JMD 770

108.16%

Apples (1kg)

$6.22 JMD 977

$1.62 JMD 254

283.95%

Banana (1kg)

$4.01 JMD 629

$4.93 JMD 774

-18.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,186

$6.42 JMD 1,009

17.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 JMD 466

$1.87 JMD 293

58.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.31 JMD 519

$1.95 JMD 307

69.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 JMD 419

$1.92 JMD 301

39.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 JMD 471

$3.20 JMD 502

-6.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 JMD 228

$2.91 JMD 457

-50.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.53 JMD 1,497

Wine (Bottle)

$11.53 JMD 1,812

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 447

$2.18 JMD 342

30.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 JMD 626

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 JMD 191

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 511

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 970

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 JMD 219

$1.42 JMD 223

-1.41%

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

$44.1K JMD 6.9M

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

$32.7K JMD 5.1M

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

$175 JMD 27.5K

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

$29.72 JMD 4,669

$42.36 JMD 6,654

-29.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 JMD 8,448

$54.7 JMD 8,594

-1.70%

Cinema Ticket

$13.46 JMD 2,114

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

$367 JMD 57.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,347 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.68 JMD 3,719

$15.77 JMD 2,477

50.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.28 JMD 4,914

$22.45 JMD 3,527

39.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 JMD 12.4K

$41.39 JMD 6,502

90.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$53.7 JMD 8,432

89.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 JMD 158.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 JMD 45.2K

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 May Pen: September 7, 2026

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 30% 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 $1,422 in Negril and $1,096 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Negril. 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 $730 in May Pen – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $730 in May Pen versus $948 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 30% less than in Negril. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.