Cost of Living Comparison Between Portmore and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Portmore and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Portmore versus $737 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,094 in Portmore versus $833 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,944 in Portmore versus $929 in May Pen.

Living in Portmore is roughly 69% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Portmore 9% lower, May Pen 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.22 JMD 1,602

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,744

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 JMD 1,408

Cappuccino

$5.19 JMD 814

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

$0.92 JMD 144

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 JMD 102

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 JMD 341

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 JMD 341

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 JMD 486

$2.20 JMD 345

40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 JMD 556

$3.83 JMD 600

-7.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 JMD 156

$3.22 JMD 505

-68.94%

Eggs

$3.48 JMD 545

$3.36 JMD 527

3.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 JMD 1,780

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,012

$7.46 JMD 1,169

-13.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.35 JMD 1,465

$4.92 JMD 772

90.04%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 JMD 948

$1.57 JMD 246

285.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.94 JMD 618

$4.99 JMD 783

-21.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 JMD 460

$6.25 JMD 979

-53.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 470

$1.95 JMD 305

53.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 JMD 498

$1.88 JMD 294

69.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.60 JMD 407

$1.95 JMD 306

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 JMD 247

$3.10 JMD 486

-49.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 JMD 195

$2.82 JMD 442

-56.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 JMD 1,451

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,797

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 JMD 459

$2.26 JMD 354

29.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 JMD 338

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 JMD 368

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 JMD 8,042

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 JMD 156

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 JMD 506

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.21 JMD 973

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 JMD 199

$1.35 JMD 212

-5.93%

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

$44.9K JMD 7.0M

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

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

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

$161 JMD 25.3K

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

$29.50 JMD 4,623

$42.36 JMD 6,639

-30.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.6 JMD 8,401

$53.0 JMD 8,304

1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.6 JMD 9,343

Cinema Ticket

$13.54 JMD 2,122

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

$284 JMD 44.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,108 JMD 487.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.31 JMD 3,654

$15.60 JMD 2,445

49.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.31 JMD 5,064

$21.83 JMD 3,421

48.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 JMD 12.2K

$41.48 JMD 6,500

87.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.4 JMD 14.8K

$54.5 JMD 8,537

73.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 JMD 49.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 JMD 34.3K

$284 JMD 44.5K

-22.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$659 JMD 103.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 JMD 95.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,565 JMD 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,760 JMD 902.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,294 JMD 202.8K

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 Portmore: September 15, 2026

Last update for May Pen: September 12, 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

Portmore vs May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Portmore. 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 $1,864 in Portmore and $1,105 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 21% higher in Portmore. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,243 per month in Portmore versus $737 in May Pen – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $737 in May Pen versus $1,243 in Portmore, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Portmore. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen 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 May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Portmore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.