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: $861 in Spanish Town versus $1,471 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Spanish Town versus $2,446 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,005 in Spanish Town versus $3,420 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 36% below, Kingston is 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 JMD 1,158

$7.30 JMD 1,150

0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 JMD 9,809

$62.8 JMD 9,889

-0.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 JMD 1,383

$8.99 JMD 1,416

-2.34%

Cappuccino

$4.47 JMD 704

$4.36 JMD 686

2.52%

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

$1.30 JMD 205

$1.36 JMD 214

-4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 406

$2.47 JMD 388

4.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 490

$3.20 JMD 503

-2.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 JMD 291

$4.41 JMD 695

-58.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 JMD 421

$3.58 JMD 565

-25.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.45 JMD 71.1

$1.61 JMD 254

-72.05%

Eggs

$3.22 JMD 507

$3.55 JMD 559

-9.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.19 JMD 503

$11.14 JMD 1,754

-71.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 314

$6.45 JMD 1,016

-69.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.79 JMD 439

$7.54 JMD 1,188

-63.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 JMD 353

$6.15 JMD 968

-63.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 294

$3.03 JMD 477

-38.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 242

$4.14 JMD 652

-63.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$2.96 JMD 466

-34.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$2.10 JMD 331

0.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 314

$1.91 JMD 301

4.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.02 JMD 476

$3.07 JMD 484

-1.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 JMD 144

$1.45 JMD 228

-37.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.91 JMD 1,404

$8.70 JMD 1,371

2.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 JMD 1,789

$11.41 JMD 1,796

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 JMD 242

$2.91 JMD 458

-47.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 JMD 388

$3.07 JMD 483

-19.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 138

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.34 JMD 7,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

$1.13 JMD 177

-1.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 JMD 514

$3.25 JMD 512

0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 988

$6.08 JMD 957

3.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$1.28 JMD 201

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

-1.59%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

2.23%

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

$161 JMD 25.3K

$163 JMD 25.6K

-1.10%

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

$22.23 JMD 3,501

$22.50 JMD 3,543

-1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 JMD 7,882

$51.1 JMD 8,051

-2.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.8 JMD 11.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.48 JMD 2,438

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 JMD 2,064

$13.13 JMD 2,068

-0.15%

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

$225 JMD 35.4K

$228 JMD 36.0K

-1.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,457 JMD 386.9K

$2,527 JMD 398.0K

-2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,052

$26.50 JMD 4,174

-2.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 JMD 3,947

$25.86 JMD 4,073

-3.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

$71.8 JMD 11.3K

-1.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

0.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 JMD 24.5K

$877 JMD 138.1K

-82.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$128 JMD 20.1K

$449 JMD 70.7K

-71.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 JMD 100.5K

$2,018 JMD 317.8K

-68.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 JMD 58.8K

$1,213 JMD 191.0K

-69.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,865 JMD 451.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 JMD 347.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,166 JMD 183.7K

$734 JMD 115.6K

58.96%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kingston: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $156 in Spanish Town and $877 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62.0 in Spanish Town vs $63.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $353 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 71% 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.

Spanish Town pays 59% more on average, 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: $156 in Spanish Town versus $877 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Spanish Town versus $1,471 in Kingston – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Spanish Town versus $1,471 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 71% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.