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: $1,050 in Spanish Town versus $1,702 in Kingston.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,982 in Spanish Town versus $2,853 in Kingston.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Spanish Town versus $4,004 in Kingston.

Living in Spanish Town costs roughly 38% less than in Kingston, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Spanish Town is 24% below, Kingston is 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.10 JMD 2,528

$15.79 JMD 2,481

1.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

-0.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 JMD 1,404

$8.56 JMD 1,345

4.44%

Cappuccino

$5.21 JMD 818

$5.40 JMD 848

-3.52%

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

$1.20 JMD 188

$1.24 JMD 195

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 JMD 114

$0.70 JMD 109

4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 JMD 352

$2.21 JMD 348

1.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 483

$3.18 JMD 500

-3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.03 JMD 632

$4.25 JMD 667

-5.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 JMD 581

$3.68 JMD 578

0.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 JMD 250

$1.62 JMD 255

-1.85%

Eggs

$3.64 JMD 571

$3.44 JMD 540

5.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.62 JMD 1,825

$11.60 JMD 1,822

0.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 JMD 990

$6.41 JMD 1,007

-1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 JMD 1,596

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 JMD 934

$6.16 JMD 967

-3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$3.86 JMD 606

$4.00 JMD 629

-3.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.36 JMD 1,156

$7.30 JMD 1,147

0.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 493

$2.97 JMD 467

5.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 JMD 517

$3.25 JMD 511

1.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 334

$2.70 JMD 424

-21.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 JMD 472

$3.15 JMD 495

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 JMD 236

$1.49 JMD 233

0.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 JMD 1,454

$9.17 JMD 1,440

0.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.53 JMD 1,812

$11.16 JMD 1,754

3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 445

$2.81 JMD 442

1.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 JMD 635

$3.95 JMD 621

2.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 JMD 127

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.86 JMD 5,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 JMD 191

$1.23 JMD 193

-0.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 JMD 500

$3.10 JMD 486

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 JMD 1,019

$6.23 JMD 979

4.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 JMD 212

$1.39 JMD 218

-2.88%

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

$44.4K JMD 7.0M

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

-0.31%

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

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

0.90%

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

$172 JMD 27.1K

$178 JMD 28.0K

-3.21%

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

$29.62 JMD 4,652

$29.81 JMD 4,682

-0.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.0 JMD 8,168

$52.5 JMD 8,241

-0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 JMD 9,598

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.79 JMD 2,794

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 JMD 2,072

$13.15 JMD 2,065

0.30%

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

$367 JMD 57.7K

$357 JMD 56.1K

2.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,158 JMD 1.3M

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

-0.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.87 JMD 3,750

$23.41 JMD 3,678

1.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.43 JMD 4,938

$31.32 JMD 4,919

0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 JMD 12.3K

$76.5 JMD 12.0K

2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.2K

$102 JMD 16.0K

1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 JMD 150.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 JMD 88.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 JMD 99.0K

$2,148 JMD 337.4K

-70.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 JMD 80.9K

$1,430 JMD 224.6K

-63.96%

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)

$1,148 JMD 180.3K

$744 JMD 116.9K

54.25%

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 Spanish Town: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kingston: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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: $75.0 in Spanish Town vs $76.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $386 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 62% 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 54% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Kingston. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,050 per month in Spanish Town versus $1,702 in Kingston – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,050 in Spanish Town versus $1,702 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 62% less than in Kingston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.