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: $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $635 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $987 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,562 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,340 in May Pen.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Andrew Parish 13% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 JMD 1,207

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.87 JMD 5,485

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 JMD 976

Cappuccino

$1.92 JMD 302

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

$0.91 JMD 143

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 490

Milk (1 liter)

$4.24 JMD 667

$2.23 JMD 351

90.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 JMD 165

$3.85 JMD 605

-72.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 JMD 191

$3.15 JMD 495

-61.27%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 566

$3.42 JMD 538

5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 JMD 1,725

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 JMD 980

$7.46 JMD 1,173

-16.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 JMD 1,196

$4.88 JMD 768

55.74%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 JMD 961

$1.53 JMD 241

299.35%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 JMD 490

$5.16 JMD 811

-39.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 JMD 649

$6.36 JMD 1,001

-35.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 480

$1.83 JMD 288

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 329

$1.84 JMD 289

13.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 303

$1.92 JMD 301

0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 JMD 478

$3.07 JMD 482

-0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 JMD 235

$2.89 JMD 454

-48.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.98 JMD 1,412

Wine (Bottle)

$11.52 JMD 1,812

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 JMD 440

$2.13 JMD 336

31.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 506

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 JMD 168

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 494

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 988

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 JMD 200

$1.37 JMD 215

-7.30%

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

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

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

$162 JMD 25.5K

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

$22.24 JMD 3,498

$41.82 JMD 6,577

-46.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 JMD 8,180

$39.20 JMD 6,166

32.65%

Cinema Ticket

$13.18 JMD 2,073

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

$223 JMD 35.1K

$316 JMD 49.7K

-29.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,442 JMD 384.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.01 JMD 4,091

$15.93 JMD 2,505

63.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.72 JMD 4,046

$21.61 JMD 3,400

19.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

$40.16 JMD 6,316

76.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

$53.5 JMD 8,409

45.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 JMD 118.8K

$177 JMD 27.9K

325.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 JMD 48.9K

$215 JMD 33.9K

44.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,895 JMD 298.1K

$563 JMD 88.6K

236.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$889 JMD 139.8K

$442 JMD 69.5K

101.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,736 JMD 430.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 JMD 113.3K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for May Pen: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 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 $1,728 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: $755 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 $1,152 per month in Saint Andrew Parish versus $635 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 $635 in May Pen versus $1,152 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.