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: $1,101 in Ocho Rios versus $1,706 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,587 in Ocho Rios versus $2,847 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Ocho Rios versus $3,988 in Kingston.

Living in Ocho Rios costs roughly 35% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ocho Rios is 20% below, Kingston is 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.37 JMD 1,470

$15.99 JMD 2,509

-41.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.9 JMD 10.0K

$75.5 JMD 11.8K

-15.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 JMD 1,086

$8.66 JMD 1,359

-20.09%

Cappuccino

$3.12 JMD 489

$5.31 JMD 833

-41.24%

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

$1.19 JMD 187

$1.20 JMD 188

-0.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 116

$0.67 JMD 106

10.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 JMD 350

$2.19 JMD 344

1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 JMD 511

$3.20 JMD 503

1.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.01 JMD 630

$4.10 JMD 643

-2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 JMD 424

$3.89 JMD 610

-30.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JMD 247

$1.59 JMD 249

-1.26%

Eggs

$3.52 JMD 553

$3.55 JMD 557

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 JMD 1,812

$11.67 JMD 1,832

-1.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,012

$6.44 JMD 1,011

0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.31 JMD 1,618

$10.24 JMD 1,607

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 JMD 968

$6.18 JMD 970

-0.16%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 487

$3.87 JMD 608

-19.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 980

$7.50 JMD 1,176

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 JMD 405

$3.07 JMD 482

-15.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 JMD 501

$3.37 JMD 528

-5.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 JMD 405

$2.72 JMD 427

-5.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.91 JMD 456

$3.12 JMD 490

-6.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 JMD 222

$1.52 JMD 239

-7.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 JMD 1,366

$9.54 JMD 1,497

-8.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 JMD 1,536

$11.43 JMD 1,793

-14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 JMD 439

$2.80 JMD 440

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 JMD 617

$4.09 JMD 641

-3.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 JMD 151

$0.76 JMD 119

26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.96 JMD 5,955

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 JMD 194

$1.17 JMD 183

5.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 504

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 JMD 968

$6.25 JMD 981

-1.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 JMD 210

$1.42 JMD 223

-5.63%

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

$44.8K JMD 7.0M

$44.6K JMD 7.0M

0.42%

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

$32.8K JMD 5.2M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

-0.53%

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

$176 JMD 27.6K

$172 JMD 27.1K

1.84%

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

$20.09 JMD 3,152

$29.30 JMD 4,596

-31.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 JMD 8,248

$52.1 JMD 8,176

0.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 JMD 9,668

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.13 JMD 2,844

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 JMD 1,800

$13.19 JMD 2,070

-13.04%

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

$358 JMD 56.2K

$362 JMD 56.7K

-0.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,314 JMD 1.3M

$8,377 JMD 1.3M

-0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.65 JMD 3,711

$23.49 JMD 3,685

0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.36 JMD 4,919

$32.14 JMD 5,042

-2.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 JMD 12.5K

$79.8 JMD 12.5K

-0.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.1K

$102 JMD 16.0K

0.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 JMD 59.1K

$981 JMD 153.9K

-61.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 JMD 30.1K

$566 JMD 88.8K

-66.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,130 JMD 334.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 JMD 217.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,880 JMD 451.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,071 JMD 324.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 JMD 116.0K

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 Ocho Rios: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $377 in Ocho Rios and $981 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $64.0 in Ocho Rios vs $75.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $389 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 55% 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 $1,651 in Ocho Rios and $2,558 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: $377 in Ocho Rios versus $981 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,101 per month in Ocho Rios versus $1,706 in Kingston – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,101 in Ocho Rios versus $1,706 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 55% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.