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: $1,112 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,858 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $987 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,604 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,328 in May Pen.

Living in Saint Andrew Parish is roughly 72% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Andrew Parish 17% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.40 JMD 1,171

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.06 JMD 5,391

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 JMD 964

Cappuccino

$1.90 JMD 301

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

$0.91 JMD 143

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 113

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 JMD 392

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 JMD 483

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 668

$2.23 JMD 353

89.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 JMD 161

$3.84 JMD 608

-73.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 JMD 200

$3.10 JMD 491

-59.03%

Eggs

$3.48 JMD 550

$3.28 JMD 519

6.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 JMD 1,723

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 JMD 1,018

$7.58 JMD 1,199

-15.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 JMD 1,190

$4.98 JMD 788

51.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.11 JMD 967

$1.55 JMD 245

294.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.12 JMD 493

$5.13 JMD 811

-39.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 JMD 672

$6.27 JMD 993

-32.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 JMD 474

$1.86 JMD 294

60.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 321

$1.84 JMD 291

10.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 304

$1.91 JMD 303

0.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 491

$3.20 JMD 507

-3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 JMD 226

$2.77 JMD 438

-48.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.56 JMD 1,355

Wine (Bottle)

$11.56 JMD 1,830

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 441

$2.16 JMD 342

28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 488

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 JMD 138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 177

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 500

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 JMD 965

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 JMD 197

$1.37 JMD 217

-8.76%

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

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

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

$162 JMD 25.7K

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

$22.01 JMD 3,483

$42.21 JMD 6,681

-47.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 JMD 8,189

$38.52 JMD 6,097

34.32%

Cinema Ticket

$13.22 JMD 2,092

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

$229 JMD 36.2K

$316 JMD 50.0K

-27.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,526 JMD 399.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 JMD 4,174

$15.94 JMD 2,523

65.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.69 JMD 4,067

$21.48 JMD 3,400

19.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

$41.08 JMD 6,502

70.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

$52.9 JMD 8,377

42.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 JMD 119.0K

$172 JMD 27.2K

337.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 JMD 49.1K

$215 JMD 34.0K

44.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,904 JMD 301.3K

$567 JMD 89.8K

235.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$907 JMD 143.6K

$431 JMD 68.2K

110.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 JMD 117.5K

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for May Pen: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Saint Andrew Parish and $172 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34 in Saint Andrew Parish vs $0 in May Pen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $278 per month, with May Pen cheaper across the board.

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 72% 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 $1,667 in Saint Andrew Parish and $968 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: $752 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $172 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,112 per month in Saint Andrew Parish versus $646 in May Pen – a 72% 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 $646 in May Pen versus $1,112 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 72% less than in Saint Andrew Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.