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: $1,479 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $730 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $817 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,415 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $903 in May Pen.

Living in Saint Andrew Parish is roughly 102% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saint Andrew Parish is 7% above, May Pen is 47% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.01 JMD 2,514

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 JMD 10.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 JMD 1,305

Cappuccino

$5.32 JMD 836

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

$1.20 JMD 189

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 JMD 338

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 JMD 509

Milk (1 liter)

$3.37 JMD 529

$2.17 JMD 342

55.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 JMD 393

$3.88 JMD 609

-35.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$3.13 JMD 492

-48.24%

Eggs

$3.51 JMD 551

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.54 JMD 1,813

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 JMD 1,016

$7.77 JMD 1,220

-16.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.38 JMD 1,631

$4.90 JMD 770

111.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.10 JMD 958

$1.62 JMD 254

276.54%

Banana (1kg)

$3.92 JMD 616

$4.93 JMD 774

-20.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.09 JMD 799

$6.42 JMD 1,009

-20.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 JMD 481

$1.87 JMD 293

63.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 JMD 512

$1.95 JMD 307

67.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 JMD 428

$1.92 JMD 301

41.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 JMD 292

$3.20 JMD 502

-41.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 JMD 152

$2.91 JMD 457

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.62 JMD 1,511

Wine (Bottle)

$11.37 JMD 1,786

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 JMD 399

$2.18 JMD 342

16.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 JMD 490

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 JMD 95.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 JMD 144

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 JMD 501

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 JMD 1,005

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 JMD 205

$1.42 JMD 223

-8.45%

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

$43.9K JMD 6.9M

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

$25.1K JMD 3.9M

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

$115 JMD 18.0K

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

$28.88 JMD 4,536

$42.36 JMD 6,654

-31.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.4 JMD 8,224

$54.7 JMD 8,594

-4.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 JMD 9,584

Cinema Ticket

$13.18 JMD 2,071

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

$254 JMD 39.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,164 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.32 JMD 3,663

$15.77 JMD 2,477

47.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.23 JMD 4,905

$22.45 JMD 3,527

39.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 JMD 12.4K

$41.39 JMD 6,502

91.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

$53.7 JMD 8,432

42.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$819 JMD 128.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 JMD 82.3K

$288 JMD 45.2K

82.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,691 JMD 265.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 JMD 174.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,681 JMD 421.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$735 JMD 115.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: September 5, 2026

Last update for May Pen: September 7, 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

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

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 102% 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 $2,218 in Saint Andrew Parish and $1,096 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 22% higher in Saint Andrew Parish. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Saint Andrew Parish versus $730 in May Pen – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $730 in May Pen versus $1,479 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 102% less than in Saint Andrew Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.