Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Santa Cruz versus $1,468 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,448 in Santa Cruz versus $2,461 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,027 in Santa Cruz versus $3,454 in Kingston.

Living in Santa Cruz costs roughly 41% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Cruz is 35% below, Kingston is 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.44 JMD 1,172

$7.60 JMD 1,197

-2.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,961

$61.6 JMD 9,701

2.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 JMD 1,379

$8.56 JMD 1,347

2.34%

Cappuccino

$4.35 JMD 685

$4.31 JMD 678

0.93%

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

$1.35 JMD 213

$1.32 JMD 208

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 JMD 112

$0.75 JMD 118

-5.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 384

$2.43 JMD 383

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 498

$3.08 JMD 484

2.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.44 JMD 699

$4.38 JMD 690

1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 JMD 569

$3.64 JMD 574

-0.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 248

$1.56 JMD 245

1.28%

Eggs

$3.58 JMD 564

$3.46 JMD 545

3.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.92 JMD 1,719

$11.02 JMD 1,736

-0.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 JMD 1,029

$6.46 JMD 1,017

1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$7.55 JMD 1,189

0.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.93 JMD 934

$5.86 JMD 923

1.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 JMD 474

$3.10 JMD 488

-2.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 JMD 653

$4.14 JMD 652

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 JMD 475

$3.04 JMD 479

-0.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 330

$2.10 JMD 330

-0.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 314

$1.93 JMD 304

3.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 468

$3.06 JMD 482

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 JMD 233

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.88 JMD 1,398

$8.93 JMD 1,407

-0.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.15 JMD 1,756

$11.39 JMD 1,793

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 JMD 452

$2.81 JMD 442

2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 488

$3.18 JMD 501

-2.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.50 JMD 7,638

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 JMD 487

$3.25 JMD 513

-4.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 JMD 1,001

$6.22 JMD 979

2.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

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

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

1.84%

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

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

1.15%

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

$161 JMD 25.4K

$165 JMD 25.9K

-2.10%

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

$21.95 JMD 3,457

$22.23 JMD 3,501

-1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.8 JMD 8,162

$51.2 JMD 8,057

1.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.55 JMD 2,449

Cinema Ticket

$13.26 JMD 2,087

$13.17 JMD 2,074

0.68%

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

$227 JMD 35.7K

$229 JMD 36.1K

-1.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,505 JMD 394.4K

$2,465 JMD 388.2K

1.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.76 JMD 4,057

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.96 JMD 4,087

$25.21 JMD 3,970

2.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

$69.6 JMD 11.0K

0.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.2 JMD 12.0K

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 JMD 138.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JMD 71.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 JMD 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,815 JMD 443.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,200 JMD 346.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 JMD 63.1K

$754 JMD 118.7K

-46.85%

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 Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kingston pays 88% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Santa Cruz vs $62.0 in Kingston. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $351, with Santa Cruz cheaper for home cooking.

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

Santa Cruz vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 88% lower in Kingston. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $868 per month in Santa Cruz versus $1,468 in Kingston – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $868 in Santa Cruz versus $1,468 in Kingston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.