Cost of Living Comparison Between Old Harbour and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Old Harbour and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in Old Harbour versus $1,482 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,163 in Old Harbour versus $2,489 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Old Harbour versus $3,496 in Kingston.

Living in Old Harbour costs roughly 52% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Old Harbour is 46% below, Kingston is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 JMD 1,013

$7.46 JMD 1,176

-13.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.66 JMD 4,990

$61.7 JMD 9,720

-48.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 JMD 777

$8.58 JMD 1,352

-42.54%

Cappuccino

$4.43 JMD 698

$4.39 JMD 692

0.91%

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

$0.93 JMD 146

$1.33 JMD 209

-30.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 JMD 96.9

$0.74 JMD 117

-17.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

$2.43 JMD 383

1.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 479

$3.10 JMD 489

-1.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.24 JMD 669

$4.33 JMD 682

-2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 JMD 567

$3.49 JMD 551

3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$1.64 JMD 258

-1.83%

Eggs

$3.49 JMD 550

$3.61 JMD 568

-3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 531

$11.20 JMD 1,765

-69.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 JMD 995

$6.45 JMD 1,016

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,190

$7.82 JMD 1,232

-3.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.88 JMD 927

$5.99 JMD 945

-1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 JMD 497

$2.98 JMD 470

6.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 649

$4.21 JMD 663

-2.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 JMD 325

$2.90 JMD 457

-28.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 JMD 328

$2.02 JMD 319

2.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 315

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 471

$3.01 JMD 475

-0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 235

$1.51 JMD 238

-1.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,362

$8.61 JMD 1,357

0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 JMD 1,814

$11.47 JMD 1,808

0.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 437

$2.78 JMD 438

-0.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 481

$3.04 JMD 480

0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 128

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.18 JMD 7,751

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

$1.09 JMD 171

2.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

$3.22 JMD 507

0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 JMD 995

$6.34 JMD 999

-0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 JMD 169

$1.24 JMD 196

-13.71%

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

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

-0.29%

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

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

0.17%

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

$49.50 JMD 7,800

$161 JMD 25.3K

-69.22%

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

$22.09 JMD 3,481

$22.24 JMD 3,504

-0.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.72 JMD 6,890

$52.0 JMD 8,191

-15.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 JMD 2,508

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 JMD 2,066

$13.38 JMD 2,109

-2.02%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$222 JMD 35.0K

2.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,483 JMD 391.3K

$2,532 JMD 399.1K

-1.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.67 JMD 4,045

$25.81 JMD 4,068

-0.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 JMD 4,007

$25.49 JMD 4,017

-0.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 JMD 11.0K

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

-1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 JMD 12.1K

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

2.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 138.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,007 JMD 316.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 JMD 187.2K

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

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

Last update for Old Harbour: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Old Harbour vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $351 per month, with Old Harbour 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

Old Harbour vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Old Harbour wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Old Harbour the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,073 in Old Harbour 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.

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 $715 per month in Old Harbour versus $1,482 in Kingston – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $715 in Old Harbour versus $1,482 in Kingston, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Old Harbour but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Old Harbour 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 Old Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.