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: $1,015 in Old Harbour versus $713 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,693 in Old Harbour versus $818 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,371 in Old Harbour versus $924 in May Pen.

Living in Old Harbour is roughly 42% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Old Harbour 26% lower, May Pen 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.11 JMD 2,538

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 JMD 11.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.05 JMD 1,426

Cappuccino

$5.24 JMD 826

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

$1.24 JMD 195

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 JMD 108

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 JMD 354

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 JMD 511

Milk (1 liter)

$4.21 JMD 664

$2.20 JMD 346

91.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 JMD 581

$3.87 JMD 610

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 256

$3.25 JMD 511

-49.85%

Eggs

$3.49 JMD 549

$3.46 JMD 545

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 JMD 1,835

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 JMD 1,014

$7.79 JMD 1,228

-17.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 JMD 1,619

$5.19 JMD 817

97.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 JMD 982

$1.54 JMD 243

304.55%

Banana (1kg)

$3.84 JMD 606

$5.10 JMD 804

-24.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.39 JMD 1,165

$6.30 JMD 993

17.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 488

$1.85 JMD 292

67.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 JMD 502

$1.87 JMD 294

70.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 JMD 427

$1.93 JMD 304

40.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.02 JMD 476

$3.23 JMD 509

-6.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 226

$2.78 JMD 438

-48.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.35 JMD 1,473

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 JMD 1,811

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 JMD 455

$2.27 JMD 358

27.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 JMD 612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 JMD 186

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.08 JMD 485

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 JMD 1,017

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 JMD 214

$1.38 JMD 217

-1.45%

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

$44.3K JMD 7.0M

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

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

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

$175 JMD 27.6K

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

$30.10 JMD 4,744

$43.22 JMD 6,811

-30.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 JMD 8,229

$54.7 JMD 8,625

-4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 JMD 2,086

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

$356 JMD 56.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,218 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.75 JMD 3,743

$15.94 JMD 2,512

49.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.18 JMD 5,072

$21.70 JMD 3,420

48.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 JMD 12.3K

$41.25 JMD 6,500

89.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 JMD 16.3K

$54.2 JMD 8,537

91.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

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

Last update for Old Harbour: August 31, 2026

Last update for May Pen: August 30, 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 42% 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 $1,523 in Old Harbour and $1,070 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Old Harbour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,015 per month in Old Harbour versus $713 in May Pen – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 42% less than in Old Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.