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: $727 in Old Harbour versus $630 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Old Harbour versus $973 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,592 in Old Harbour versus $1,316 in May Pen.

Living in Old Harbour is roughly 15% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Old Harbour 46% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.09 JMD 958

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.96 JMD 4,869

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 JMD 768

Cappuccino

$4.42 JMD 695

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

$0.92 JMD 145

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 JMD 94.3

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 383

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 480

Milk (1 liter)

$4.35 JMD 684

$2.24 JMD 353

94.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 JMD 568

$3.68 JMD 578

-1.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 256

$3.18 JMD 500

-48.74%

Eggs

$3.41 JMD 537

$3.46 JMD 544

-1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 529

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 JMD 1,024

$7.63 JMD 1,200

-14.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 JMD 1,224

$5.09 JMD 800

52.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 JMD 929

$1.53 JMD 241

286.27%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 JMD 491

$5.11 JMD 804

-38.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 JMD 672

$6.08 JMD 956

-29.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 JMD 334

$1.91 JMD 300

11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 315

$1.93 JMD 303

3.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$1.85 JMD 291

9.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 JMD 469

$3.19 JMD 502

-6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 JMD 224

$2.90 JMD 455

-50.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.69 JMD 1,366

Wine (Bottle)

$11.63 JMD 1,828

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 448

$2.22 JMD 349

28.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 484

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 130

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 177

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 493

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 973

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 JMD 164

$1.41 JMD 222

-26.24%

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

$43.5K JMD 6.8M

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)

$49.93 JMD 7,852

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

$22.31 JMD 3,508

$41.74 JMD 6,563

-46.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.15 JMD 6,942

$39.36 JMD 6,189

12.17%

Cinema Ticket

$13.27 JMD 2,087

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

$227 JMD 35.7K

$313 JMD 49.2K

-27.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,436 JMD 383.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.12 JMD 4,108

$15.86 JMD 2,494

64.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.85 JMD 4,064

$21.62 JMD 3,400

19.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

$40.73 JMD 6,405

75.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 JMD 11.8K

$53.5 JMD 8,409

39.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 JMD 34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 JMD 69.7K

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 May Pen: May 31, 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 15% 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 $1,091 in Old Harbour 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.

All in, you'll spend $727 per month in Old Harbour versus $630 in May Pen – a 15% 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 15% less than in Old Harbour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.