Cost of Living Comparison Between Old Harbour and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Old Harbour and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in Old Harbour versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,163 in Old Harbour versus $1,006 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Old Harbour versus $1,366 in May Pen.

Living in Old Harbour is roughly 11% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Old Harbour 46% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 JMD 1,013

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.66 JMD 4,990

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 JMD 777

Cappuccino

$4.43 JMD 698

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

$0.93 JMD 146

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 JMD 96.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 479

Milk (1 liter)

$4.24 JMD 669

$2.14 JMD 337

98.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 JMD 567

$3.84 JMD 605

-6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 JMD 254

$3.08 JMD 486

-47.73%

Eggs

$3.49 JMD 550

$3.32 JMD 523

5.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 531

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 JMD 995

$7.42 JMD 1,170

-14.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 JMD 1,190

$5.10 JMD 804

48.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.88 JMD 927

$1.61 JMD 254

265.22%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 JMD 497

$4.98 JMD 784

-36.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 JMD 649

$6.43 JMD 1,013

-35.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 JMD 325

$1.93 JMD 304

6.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 JMD 328

$1.93 JMD 305

7.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 315

$1.83 JMD 288

9.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 471

$3.08 JMD 485

-2.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 235

$2.84 JMD 447

-47.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 JMD 1,362

Wine (Bottle)

$11.51 JMD 1,814

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 437

$2.25 JMD 355

23.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 481

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 176

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 JMD 995

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 JMD 169

$1.39 JMD 220

-23.02%

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

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

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

$34.2K JMD 5.4M

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

$49.50 JMD 7,800

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

$22.09 JMD 3,481

$42.49 JMD 6,696

-48.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.72 JMD 6,890

$38.56 JMD 6,077

13.38%

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 JMD 2,066

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$313 JMD 49.4K

-27.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,483 JMD 391.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.67 JMD 4,045

$15.48 JMD 2,440

65.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 JMD 4,007

$21.50 JMD 3,388

18.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 JMD 11.0K

$40.10 JMD 6,319

74.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 JMD 12.1K

$53.5 JMD 8,437

42.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 JMD 28.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 JMD 88.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 JMD 68.0K

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 May Pen: July 11, 2026

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Old Harbour. 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 $1,073 in Old Harbour and $970 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.

All in, you'll spend $715 per month in Old Harbour versus $646 in May Pen – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Old Harbour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though May Pen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 11% less than in Old Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.