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: $838 in Spanish Town versus $1,454 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,404 in Spanish Town versus $2,432 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,970 in Spanish Town versus $3,409 in Kingston.

Living in Spanish Town costs roughly 42% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Spanish Town is 38% below, Kingston is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,151

$7.54 JMD 1,188

-3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,699

$63.3 JMD 9,983

-2.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.52 JMD 1,343

$8.76 JMD 1,380

-2.74%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 700

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

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.31 JMD 207

1.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.69 JMD 110

10.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 405

$2.57 JMD 404

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 501

$3.08 JMD 486

3.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 JMD 300

$4.32 JMD 681

-56.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 JMD 406

$3.54 JMD 558

-27.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.42 JMD 66.5

$1.61 JMD 254

-73.91%

Eggs

$3.22 JMD 508

$3.50 JMD 551

-8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$11.10 JMD 1,749

-71.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 312

$6.50 JMD 1,024

-69.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.80 JMD 441

$7.79 JMD 1,228

-64.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 JMD 348

$6.15 JMD 969

-64.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 292

$3.06 JMD 482

-39.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$4.33 JMD 683

-63.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$3.00 JMD 473

-39.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 JMD 332

$2.05 JMD 323

2.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$1.91 JMD 301

1.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 469

$3.13 JMD 493

-5.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 JMD 145

$1.45 JMD 228

-36.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 JMD 1,380

$9.00 JMD 1,419

-2.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.40 JMD 1,796

$11.59 JMD 1,827

-1.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 JMD 244

$2.86 JMD 450

-45.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 JMD 390

$3.08 JMD 486

-19.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 JMD 140

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.88 JMD 7,860

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.08 JMD 171

4.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 510

$3.16 JMD 498

2.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 JMD 997

$6.17 JMD 973

2.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.24 JMD 195

3.23%

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

$42.2K JMD 6.7M

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

-1.24%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

1.58%

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

$162 JMD 25.5K

$165 JMD 25.9K

-1.62%

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

$21.92 JMD 3,455

$21.76 JMD 3,429

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 JMD 7,998

$51.9 JMD 8,179

-2.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 JMD 2,438

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,082

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

$226 JMD 35.6K

$228 JMD 36.0K

-0.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,483 JMD 391.2K

$2,456 JMD 387.0K

1.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.33 JMD 4,149

$26.42 JMD 4,164

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 JMD 4,008

$25.61 JMD 4,036

-0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

$69.9 JMD 11.0K

3.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 JMD 12.2K

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

-0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 JMD 24.5K

$886 JMD 139.7K

-82.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 JMD 19.4K

$446 JMD 70.4K

-72.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 JMD 97.2K

$1,996 JMD 314.5K

-69.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 JMD 59.2K

$1,214 JMD 191.2K

-69.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,824 JMD 445.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,167 JMD 341.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 JMD 182.9K

$754 JMD 118.8K

53.91%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $156 in Spanish Town and $886 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 54% 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 $193 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 73% 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 54% 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 $886 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Spanish Town versus $1,454 in Kingston – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $838 in Spanish Town versus $1,454 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 73% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.