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: $1,319 in Santa Cruz versus $1,702 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,032 in Santa Cruz versus $2,853 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Santa Cruz versus $4,004 in Kingston.

Living in Santa Cruz costs roughly 23% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Cruz is 4% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.51 JMD 1,180

$15.79 JMD 2,481

-52.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 JMD 9,839

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

-17.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 JMD 1,025

$8.56 JMD 1,345

-23.71%

Cappuccino

$5.37 JMD 844

$5.40 JMD 848

-0.56%

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

$1.25 JMD 196

$1.24 JMD 195

0.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

$0.70 JMD 109

-2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 JMD 355

$2.21 JMD 348

2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 JMD 490

$3.18 JMD 500

-1.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.21 JMD 661

$4.25 JMD 667

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 JMD 397

$3.68 JMD 578

-31.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 254

$1.62 JMD 255

Eggs

$3.53 JMD 554

$3.44 JMD 540

2.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 JMD 1,802

$11.60 JMD 1,822

-1.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 JMD 998

$6.41 JMD 1,007

-0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 JMD 1,638

$10.16 JMD 1,596

2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 JMD 939

$6.16 JMD 967

-2.92%

Banana (1kg)

$3.93 JMD 618

$4.00 JMD 629

-1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.46 JMD 1,171

$7.30 JMD 1,147

2.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 JMD 469

$2.97 JMD 467

0.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 JMD 506

$3.25 JMD 511

-0.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 JMD 411

$2.70 JMD 424

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 226

$1.49 JMD 233

-3.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.61 JMD 1,510

$9.17 JMD 1,440

4.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.48 JMD 1,803

$11.16 JMD 1,754

2.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 JMD 463

$2.81 JMD 442

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 620

$3.95 JMD 621

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 JMD 187

$1.23 JMD 193

-3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 JMD 482

$3.10 JMD 486

-0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 JMD 1,009

$6.23 JMD 979

3.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 JMD 217

$1.39 JMD 218

-0.72%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

-0.06%

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

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

1.49%

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

$178 JMD 27.9K

$178 JMD 28.0K

-0.16%

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

$28.99 JMD 4,554

$29.81 JMD 4,682

-2.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 JMD 8,178

$52.5 JMD 8,241

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.11 JMD 5,829

$61.1 JMD 9,598

-39.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.09 JMD 2,056

$13.15 JMD 2,065

-0.46%

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

$361 JMD 56.7K

$357 JMD 56.1K

0.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,150 JMD 1.3M

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

-0.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.06 JMD 3,780

$23.41 JMD 3,678

2.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.68 JMD 4,977

$31.32 JMD 4,919

1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 JMD 16.4K

$102 JMD 16.0K

2.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 JMD 49.2K

$563 JMD 88.4K

-44.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 JMD 79.2K

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

-64.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,887 JMD 453.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 JMD 328.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$409 JMD 64.3K

$744 JMD 116.9K

-45.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kingston pays 82% 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 $76.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 vs $386 per month, with Santa Cruz 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

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

Santa Cruz wins on cost – living expenses run 29% 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 82% 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 3% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,319 per month in Santa Cruz versus $1,702 in Kingston – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,319 in Santa Cruz versus $1,702 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 29% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.