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: $1,040 in Spanish Town versus $713 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,972 in Spanish Town versus $818 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,903 in Spanish Town versus $924 in May Pen.

Living in Spanish Town is roughly 46% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Spanish Town 24% lower, May Pen 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.99 JMD 2,520

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 JMD 11.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 JMD 1,382

Cappuccino

$5.49 JMD 865

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

$1.19 JMD 187

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 JMD 344

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 508

Milk (1 liter)

$4.22 JMD 665

$2.20 JMD 346

91.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 JMD 582

$3.87 JMD 610

-4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$3.25 JMD 511

-50.77%

Eggs

$3.49 JMD 550

$3.46 JMD 545

0.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 JMD 1,794

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.40 JMD 1,008

$7.79 JMD 1,228

-17.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 JMD 1,622

$5.19 JMD 817

98.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 JMD 940

$1.54 JMD 243

287.01%

Banana (1kg)

$3.88 JMD 611

$5.10 JMD 804

-23.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.43 JMD 1,171

$6.30 JMD 993

17.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 JMD 479

$1.85 JMD 292

64.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 JMD 518

$1.87 JMD 294

75.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 323

$1.93 JMD 304

6.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 JMD 494

$3.23 JMD 509

-3.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 JMD 235

$2.78 JMD 438

-46.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.68 JMD 1,525

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 JMD 1,801

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 457

$2.27 JMD 358

27.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 JMD 646

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 JMD 184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.12 JMD 492

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 976

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 JMD 215

$1.38 JMD 217

-0.72%

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

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

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

$32.7K JMD 5.2M

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

$174 JMD 27.4K

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

$29.43 JMD 4,638

$43.22 JMD 6,811

-31.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 JMD 8,219

$54.7 JMD 8,625

-4.71%

Cinema Ticket

$13.31 JMD 2,097

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

$367 JMD 57.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,250 JMD 1.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.73 JMD 3,740

$15.94 JMD 2,512

48.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.76 JMD 5,005

$21.70 JMD 3,420

46.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 JMD 12.1K

$41.25 JMD 6,500

86.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.1K

$54.2 JMD 8,537

88.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 JMD 44.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 JMD 98.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 JMD 79.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,169 JMD 184.2K

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for May Pen: August 30, 2026

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 46% 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 $1,560 in Spanish Town and $1,070 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Spanish Town. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,040 per month in Spanish Town versus $713 in May Pen – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 46% less than in Spanish Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.