Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $928 in Ocho Rios versus $1,451 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,932 in Ocho Rios versus $2,475 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,936 in Ocho Rios versus $3,498 in Kingston.

Living in Ocho Rios costs roughly 36% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ocho Rios is 31% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 JMD 1,147

$7.61 JMD 1,192

-3.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,741

$62.0 JMD 9,707

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 JMD 988

$8.80 JMD 1,379

-28.41%

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 437

$4.36 JMD 682

-36.01%

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

$1.38 JMD 216

$1.32 JMD 207

4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

$0.74 JMD 117

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 JMD 353

$2.57 JMD 403

-12.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 497

$3.20 JMD 501

-0.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.95 JMD 619

$4.36 JMD 684

-9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 JMD 426

$3.66 JMD 573

-25.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 244

$1.57 JMD 246

-0.64%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 544

$3.47 JMD 543

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,015

$11.19 JMD 1,754

-42.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 JMD 994

$6.42 JMD 1,007

-1.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 JMD 1,171

$7.82 JMD 1,225

-4.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 JMD 924

$5.96 JMD 933

-1.01%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 JMD 495

$3.13 JMD 491

0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 JMD 644

$4.30 JMD 673

-4.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 JMD 354

$2.96 JMD 464

-23.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 320

$2.03 JMD 317

0.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 318

$2.01 JMD 315

1.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 JMD 327

$3.12 JMD 489

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 JMD 170

$1.45 JMD 227

-25.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,405

$8.89 JMD 1,393

0.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.63 JMD 1,509

$11.29 JMD 1,769

-14.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 JMD 384

$2.90 JMD 454

-15.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 JMD 473

$3.20 JMD 502

-5.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 JMD 242

$0.89 JMD 140

73.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 JMD 101

$1.12 JMD 176

-41.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 JMD 150

$3.15 JMD 494

-69.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 JMD 1,000

$6.19 JMD 971

3.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

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

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-0.64%

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

0.32%

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

$103 JMD 16.2K

$163 JMD 25.5K

-36.53%

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

$22.01 JMD 3,448

$22.49 JMD 3,523

-2.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.06 JMD 5,963

$50.7 JMD 7,942

-24.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.73 JMD 2,465

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

-77.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 JMD 909

$15.50 JMD 2,428

-62.58%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 JMD 1,795

$12.92 JMD 2,024

-11.30%

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

$224 JMD 35.1K

$222 JMD 34.8K

0.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,461 JMD 385.6K

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

0.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 JMD 2,495

$25.73 JMD 4,032

-38.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.36 JMD 1,937

$25.24 JMD 3,955

-51.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 JMD 7,954

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

-29.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.2 JMD 9,902

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

-16.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 JMD 59.8K

$880 JMD 137.9K

-56.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 JMD 28.9K

$451 JMD 70.7K

-59.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 JMD 185.7K

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

-41.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 JMD 190.7K

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

1.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,863 JMD 448.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 JMD 343.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 114.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Ocho Rios: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Ocho Rios and $880 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Ocho Rios vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $353 per month, with Ocho Rios 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

Ocho Rios vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ocho Rios wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ocho Rios the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,391 in Ocho Rios and $2,177 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: $382 in Ocho Rios versus $880 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $928 per month in Ocho Rios versus $1,451 in Kingston – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $928 in Ocho Rios versus $1,451 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ocho Rios but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.