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: $727 in Old Harbour versus $1,451 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Old Harbour versus $2,475 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Old Harbour versus $3,498 in Kingston.

Living in Old Harbour costs roughly 50% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Old Harbour is 46% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.09 JMD 954

$7.61 JMD 1,192

-19.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.96 JMD 4,852

$62.0 JMD 9,707

-50.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 JMD 765

$8.80 JMD 1,379

-44.55%

Cappuccino

$4.42 JMD 693

$4.36 JMD 682

1.38%

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

$0.92 JMD 145

$1.32 JMD 207

-30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 JMD 94.0

$0.74 JMD 117

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 382

$2.57 JMD 403

-5.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 478

$3.20 JMD 501

-4.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.35 JMD 682

$4.36 JMD 684

-0.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 JMD 566

$3.66 JMD 573

-1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 255

$1.57 JMD 246

3.82%

Eggs

$3.41 JMD 535

$3.47 JMD 543

-1.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 527

$11.19 JMD 1,754

-69.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 JMD 1,020

$6.42 JMD 1,007

1.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 JMD 1,220

$7.82 JMD 1,225

-0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 JMD 925

$5.96 JMD 933

-0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 JMD 490

$3.13 JMD 491

-0.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 JMD 670

$4.30 JMD 673

-0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 JMD 333

$2.96 JMD 464

-28.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 314

$2.03 JMD 317

-1.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 317

$2.01 JMD 315

1.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 JMD 467

$3.12 JMD 489

-4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 JMD 224

$1.45 JMD 227

-1.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.69 JMD 1,361

$8.89 JMD 1,393

-2.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 JMD 1,822

$11.29 JMD 1,769

3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 446

$2.90 JMD 454

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 483

$3.20 JMD 502

-3.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.53 JMD 7,604

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 491

$3.15 JMD 494

-0.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 970

$6.19 JMD 971

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 JMD 163

$1.28 JMD 201

-18.75%

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

$43.5K JMD 6.8M

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

0.72%

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-0.68%

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

$49.93 JMD 7,824

$163 JMD 25.5K

-69.33%

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

$22.31 JMD 3,496

$22.49 JMD 3,523

-0.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.15 JMD 6,918

$50.7 JMD 7,942

-12.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.50 JMD 2,428

Cinema Ticket

$13.27 JMD 2,079

$12.92 JMD 2,024

2.71%

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

$227 JMD 35.6K

$222 JMD 34.8K

2.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,436 JMD 381.7K

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

-0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.12 JMD 4,093

$25.73 JMD 4,032

1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.85 JMD 4,050

$25.24 JMD 3,955

2.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.2K

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

-1.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 JMD 11.7K

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

-1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 JMD 137.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 70.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

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

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

Last update for Old Harbour: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $31.00 in Old Harbour vs $62.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $353 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 100% 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 $1,091 in Old Harbour 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.

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 $727 per month in Old Harbour versus $1,451 in Kingston – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $727 in Old Harbour versus $1,451 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 100% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.