Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $865 in Spanish Town versus $630 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,440 in Spanish Town versus $973 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,014 in Spanish Town versus $1,316 in May Pen.

Living in Spanish Town is roughly 37% more expensive than May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.38 JMD 1,157

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.1 JMD 9,724

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 JMD 1,405

Cappuccino

$4.35 JMD 682

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

$1.31 JMD 205

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 109

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 402

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 476

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 JMD 291

$2.24 JMD 351

-17.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 JMD 405

$3.68 JMD 576

-29.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.45 JMD 70.7

$3.18 JMD 498

-85.85%

Eggs

$3.18 JMD 498

$3.46 JMD 542

-8.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.17 JMD 496

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.00 JMD 313

$7.63 JMD 1,196

-73.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 JMD 452

$5.09 JMD 797

-43.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 JMD 336

$1.53 JMD 240

39.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 JMD 298

$5.11 JMD 801

-62.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 JMD 242

$6.08 JMD 952

-74.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 JMD 300

$1.91 JMD 299

0.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 329

$1.93 JMD 302

8.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 311

$1.85 JMD 290

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 JMD 474

$3.19 JMD 501

-5.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 JMD 143

$2.90 JMD 454

-68.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 JMD 1,400

Wine (Bottle)

$11.45 JMD 1,794

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 JMD 253

$2.22 JMD 348

-27.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 JMD 397

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 JMD 130

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 170

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 JMD 506

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 JMD 992

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 192

$1.41 JMD 222

-12.77%

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

$43.0K JMD 6.7M

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)

$164 JMD 25.7K

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

$21.71 JMD 3,402

$41.74 JMD 6,540

-47.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 JMD 7,907

$39.36 JMD 6,167

28.20%

Cinema Ticket

$13.38 JMD 2,096

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

$225 JMD 35.3K

$313 JMD 49.0K

-27.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,481 JMD 388.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 JMD 4,131

$15.86 JMD 2,485

66.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.10 JMD 3,932

$21.62 JMD 3,388

16.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

$40.73 JMD 6,382

77.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 JMD 11.8K

$53.5 JMD 8,379

40.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 JMD 24.9K

$177 JMD 27.7K

-10.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 JMD 19.4K

$217 JMD 33.9K

-42.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$617 JMD 96.6K

$563 JMD 88.2K

9.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 JMD 58.8K

$443 JMD 69.5K

-15.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,178 JMD 184.5K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for May Pen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $159 in Spanish Town and $177 in May Pen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

May Pen wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Spanish Town. 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 $1,298 in Spanish Town and $945 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $159 in Spanish Town versus $177 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $865 per month in Spanish Town versus $630 in May Pen – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Spanish Town pay roughly 44% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 37% less than in Spanish Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.