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: $904 in Ocho Rios versus $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,927 in Ocho Rios versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,950 in Ocho Rios versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Living in Ocho Rios costs roughly 39% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ocho Rios is 32% below, Kingston is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,200

$7.46 JMD 1,176

2.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.1 JMD 9,793

$61.7 JMD 9,720

0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 JMD 983

$8.58 JMD 1,352

-27.27%

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 440

$4.39 JMD 692

-36.45%

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

$1.37 JMD 217

$1.33 JMD 209

3.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 JMD 350

$2.43 JMD 383

-8.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.10 JMD 489

-0.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.08 JMD 644

$4.33 JMD 682

-5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 JMD 441

$3.49 JMD 551

-19.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$1.64 JMD 258

-4.88%

Eggs

$3.53 JMD 556

$3.61 JMD 568

-2.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 JMD 1,046

$11.20 JMD 1,765

-40.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 JMD 1,020

$6.45 JMD 1,016

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,189

$7.82 JMD 1,232

-3.58%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 JMD 958

$5.99 JMD 945

1.50%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$2.98 JMD 470

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 JMD 684

$4.21 JMD 663

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 JMD 370

$2.90 JMD 457

-18.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$2.02 JMD 319

0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$2.00 JMD 315

-3.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 JMD 330

$3.01 JMD 475

-30.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 JMD 177

$1.51 JMD 238

-25.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,414

$8.61 JMD 1,357

4.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.70 JMD 1,528

$11.47 JMD 1,808

-15.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 JMD 382

$2.78 JMD 438

-12.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 JMD 460

$3.04 JMD 480

-3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.60 JMD 252

$0.81 JMD 128

97.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 JMD 104

$1.09 JMD 171

-39.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 JMD 147

$3.22 JMD 507

-71.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 981

$6.34 JMD 999

-1.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

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

$42.5K JMD 6.7M

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

-2.12%

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-0.68%

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

$107 JMD 16.8K

$161 JMD 25.3K

-33.67%

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

$21.93 JMD 3,456

$22.24 JMD 3,504

-1.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.44 JMD 6,215

$52.0 JMD 8,191

-24.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.78 JMD 2,487

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

-77.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.71 JMD 900

$15.91 JMD 2,508

-64.11%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 JMD 1,782

$13.38 JMD 2,109

-15.47%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$222 JMD 35.0K

2.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,464 JMD 388.4K

$2,532 JMD 399.1K

-2.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.78 JMD 2,487

$25.81 JMD 4,068

-38.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.51 JMD 1,971

$25.49 JMD 4,017

-50.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.26 JMD 7,763

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

-30.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.4 JMD 9,831

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

-16.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 JMD 58.6K

$880 JMD 138.6K

-57.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 JMD 29.5K

$451 JMD 71.2K

-58.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 JMD 188.2K

$2,007 JMD 316.2K

-40.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 JMD 186.5K

$1,188 JMD 187.2K

-0.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 JMD 451.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,153 JMD 339.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$732 JMD 115.4K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $372 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 $311 vs $351 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 64% 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 $1,355 in Ocho Rios and $2,223 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: $372 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 13% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $904 per month in Ocho Rios versus $1,482 in Kingston – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $904 in Ocho Rios versus $1,482 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 64% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.