Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $928 in Ocho Rios versus $630 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,932 in Ocho Rios versus $973 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,936 in Ocho Rios versus $1,316 in May Pen.

Living in Ocho Rios is roughly 47% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ocho Rios 31% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 JMD 1,151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,776

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 JMD 991

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 438

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

$1.38 JMD 217

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 JMD 355

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 499

Milk (1 liter)

$3.95 JMD 621

$2.24 JMD 353

76.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 JMD 427

$3.68 JMD 578

-26.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$3.18 JMD 500

-50.94%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 546

$3.46 JMD 544

0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,018

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 JMD 998

$7.63 JMD 1,200

-16.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 JMD 1,175

$5.09 JMD 800

46.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 JMD 927

$1.53 JMD 241

285.62%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 JMD 497

$5.11 JMD 804

-38.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 JMD 646

$6.08 JMD 956

-32.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 JMD 355

$1.91 JMD 300

18.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 322

$1.93 JMD 303

5.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$1.85 JMD 291

9.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 JMD 328

$3.19 JMD 502

-34.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 JMD 170

$2.90 JMD 455

-62.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,410

Wine (Bottle)

$9.63 JMD 1,514

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 JMD 386

$2.22 JMD 349

10.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 JMD 475

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 JMD 243

$0.83 JMD 130

85.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 JMD 102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 JMD 151

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 JMD 1,003

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$1.41 JMD 222

-9.22%

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

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

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)

$103 JMD 16.2K

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

$22.01 JMD 3,460

$41.74 JMD 6,563

-47.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.06 JMD 5,985

$39.36 JMD 6,189

-3.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.73 JMD 2,473

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 JMD 912

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 JMD 1,802

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

$224 JMD 35.2K

$313 JMD 49.2K

-28.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,461 JMD 387.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 JMD 2,504

$15.86 JMD 2,494

0.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.36 JMD 1,943

$21.62 JMD 3,400

-42.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 JMD 7,983

$40.73 JMD 6,405

24.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.2 JMD 9,937

$53.5 JMD 8,409

18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 JMD 60.0K

$177 JMD 27.8K

115.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 JMD 29.0K

$217 JMD 34.0K

-14.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 JMD 186.4K

$563 JMD 88.5K

110.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 JMD 191.4K

$443 JMD 69.7K

174.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ocho Rios: May 30, 2026

Last update for May Pen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Ocho Rios and $177 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

Ocho Rios vs May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Ocho Rios. 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 $1,391 in Ocho Rios and $945 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: $382 in Ocho Rios versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $928 per month in Ocho Rios versus $630 in May Pen – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $630 in May Pen versus $928 in Ocho Rios, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Ocho Rios. 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 47% less than in Ocho Rios. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.