Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Spanish Town versus $1,459 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,446 in Spanish Town versus $2,444 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Spanish Town versus $3,429 in Kingston.

Living in Spanish Town costs roughly 41% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,210

$7.57 JMD 1,191

1.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 JMD 9,846

$63.2 JMD 9,935

-0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$8.95 JMD 1,408

-4.36%

Cappuccino

$4.40 JMD 692

$4.46 JMD 702

-1.35%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.37 JMD 215

-4.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$0.75 JMD 118

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

$2.43 JMD 383

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 488

$3.14 JMD 494

-0.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 JMD 301

$4.18 JMD 658

-54.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 JMD 404

$3.54 JMD 557

-27.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.43 JMD 67.2

$1.54 JMD 243

-72.08%

Eggs

$3.04 JMD 479

$3.52 JMD 554

-13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 487

$11.04 JMD 1,736

-71.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$6.48 JMD 1,019

-70.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$7.81 JMD 1,228

-64.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 JMD 343

$5.95 JMD 936

-63.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 JMD 298

$3.14 JMD 494

-39.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 241

$4.33 JMD 681

-64.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$2.92 JMD 459

-37.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$2.09 JMD 328

1.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$2.02 JMD 318

-3.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 471

$2.97 JMD 467

0.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 JMD 142

$1.44 JMD 227

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.65 JMD 1,361

$8.72 JMD 1,371

-0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 JMD 1,825

$11.29 JMD 1,776

2.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 JMD 244

$2.78 JMD 438

-44.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 JMD 389

$3.15 JMD 496

-21.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 JMD 129

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.33 JMD 7,760

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 169

$1.07 JMD 168

0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 495

$3.20 JMD 503

-1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.35 JMD 999

$6.39 JMD 1,005

-0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 JMD 193

$1.23 JMD 194

-0.81%

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

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

0.77%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$34.0K JMD 5.4M

-3.32%

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

$166 JMD 26.2K

$164 JMD 25.8K

1.68%

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

$22.08 JMD 3,473

$21.77 JMD 3,424

1.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,033

$51.7 JMD 8,132

-1.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.93 JMD 2,506

Cinema Ticket

$12.93 JMD 2,034

$13.03 JMD 2,049

-0.77%

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

$230 JMD 36.2K

$223 JMD 35.0K

3.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,516 JMD 395.8K

$2,512 JMD 395.1K

0.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.46 JMD 4,161

$25.87 JMD 4,069

2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 JMD 3,973

$25.40 JMD 3,996

-0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

2.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 JMD 25.0K

$909 JMD 143.0K

-82.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 JMD 19.3K

$463 JMD 72.8K

-73.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 JMD 99.6K

$2,028 JMD 319.0K

-68.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 JMD 59.8K

$1,174 JMD 184.6K

-67.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 JMD 437.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,164 JMD 340.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,183 JMD 186.0K

$733 JMD 115.3K

61.34%

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 Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Spanish Town and $909 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Spanish Town vs $63.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $349 per month, with Spanish Town 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

Spanish Town vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Spanish Town wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Spanish Town the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Spanish Town, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Spanish Town versus $909 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $859 per month in Spanish Town versus $1,459 in Kingston – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $859 in Spanish Town versus $1,459 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Spanish Town but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Spanish Town 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 Spanish Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.