Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Santa Cruz versus $634 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,438 in Santa Cruz versus $993 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,998 in Santa Cruz versus $1,351 in May Pen.

Living in Santa Cruz is roughly 38% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Cruz 35% lower, May Pen 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.37 JMD 1,159

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 JMD 9,958

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 JMD 1,407

Cappuccino

$4.40 JMD 693

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

$1.31 JMD 205

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 JMD 397

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 498

Milk (1 liter)

$4.23 JMD 665

$2.21 JMD 348

91.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.49 JMD 549

$3.71 JMD 584

-5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 JMD 248

$3.15 JMD 496

-49.84%

Eggs

$3.42 JMD 538

$3.33 JMD 524

2.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 JMD 1,768

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 JMD 1,030

$7.41 JMD 1,166

-11.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,187

$5.04 JMD 792

49.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 938

$1.58 JMD 249

277.22%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 JMD 497

$4.99 JMD 785

-36.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 JMD 650

$6.20 JMD 975

-33.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.00 JMD 472

$1.85 JMD 292

62.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 JMD 326

$1.91 JMD 301

8.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$1.92 JMD 302

1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 470

$3.10 JMD 488

-3.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 JMD 229

$2.89 JMD 455

-49.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.01 JMD 1,417

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,804

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 JMD 449

$2.16 JMD 340

31.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 JMD 506

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 131

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 JMD 171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 497

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 JMD 967

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 193

$1.36 JMD 214

-9.56%

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

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

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

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

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

$162 JMD 25.4K

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

$22.34 JMD 3,514

$43.00 JMD 6,763

-48.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.2 JMD 7,897

$39.76 JMD 6,254

26.28%

Cinema Ticket

$12.93 JMD 2,034

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

$226 JMD 35.6K

$318 JMD 50.0K

-28.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,445 JMD 384.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.26 JMD 4,130

$15.93 JMD 2,505

64.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.02 JMD 4,092

$21.77 JMD 3,425

19.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 JMD 11.3K

$41.01 JMD 6,450

74.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

$53.7 JMD 8,440

39.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 JMD 27.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 JMD 90.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 JMD 68.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$405 JMD 63.7K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for May Pen: June 6, 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

Santa Cruz vs May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Santa Cruz. 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 $1,318 in Santa Cruz 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.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Santa Cruz versus $634 in May Pen – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Santa Cruz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though May Pen gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 38% less than in Santa Cruz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.