Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Andrew Parish and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Andrew Parish and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $634 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,900 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $993 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,650 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,351 in May Pen.

Living in Saint Andrew Parish is roughly 81% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Andrew Parish 14% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,200

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.16 JMD 5,384

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 JMD 983

Cappuccino

$1.90 JMD 299

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

$0.96 JMD 152

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 384

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 498

Milk (1 liter)

$4.26 JMD 671

$2.21 JMD 349

92.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 JMD 162

$3.71 JMD 585

-72.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 JMD 203

$3.15 JMD 497

-59.05%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 546

$3.33 JMD 525

3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 JMD 1,727

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 JMD 991

$7.41 JMD 1,169

-15.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 JMD 1,193

$5.04 JMD 794

50.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 JMD 943

$1.58 JMD 249

279.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 JMD 488

$4.99 JMD 787

-38.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.15 JMD 653

$6.20 JMD 977

-33.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 JMD 457

$1.85 JMD 292

56.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 JMD 317

$1.91 JMD 302

5.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 318

$1.92 JMD 303

5.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 JMD 485

$3.10 JMD 489

-0.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 JMD 236

$2.89 JMD 456

-48.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.85 JMD 1,395

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 JMD 1,806

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JMD 436

$2.16 JMD 341

28.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 JMD 503

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 497

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 JMD 979

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$1.36 JMD 214

-5.88%

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

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

$165 JMD 25.9K

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

$21.80 JMD 3,436

$43.00 JMD 6,776

-49.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,045

$39.76 JMD 6,266

28.40%

Cinema Ticket

$13.05 JMD 2,057

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

$222 JMD 35.0K

$318 JMD 50.1K

-30.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,473 JMD 389.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.59 JMD 4,191

$15.93 JMD 2,510

66.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.91 JMD 4,083

$21.77 JMD 3,431

19.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 JMD 11.2K

$41.01 JMD 6,462

73.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$53.7 JMD 8,456

40.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$747 JMD 117.7K

$177 JMD 27.9K

322.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 JMD 48.7K

$221 JMD 34.8K

39.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,880 JMD 296.3K

$574 JMD 90.4K

227.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$884 JMD 139.3K

$433 JMD 68.3K

104.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,760 JMD 435.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$724 JMD 114.0K

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 Saint Andrew Parish: June 8, 2026

Last update for May Pen: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $747 in Saint Andrew Parish and $177 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Saint Andrew Parish vs May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 $1,726 in Saint Andrew Parish and $952 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $747 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,151 per month in Saint Andrew Parish versus $634 in May Pen – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $634 in May Pen versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 81% less than in Saint Andrew Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.