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: $856 in Spanish Town versus $646 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Spanish Town versus $1,006 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,982 in Spanish Town versus $1,366 in May Pen.

Living in Spanish Town is roughly 32% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Spanish Town 36% lower, May Pen 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.64 JMD 1,205

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 JMD 9,815

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 JMD 1,410

Cappuccino

$4.33 JMD 682

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

$1.31 JMD 207

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 111

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 405

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 489

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 JMD 299

$2.14 JMD 337

-11.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 JMD 412

$3.84 JMD 605

-31.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.43 JMD 67.0

$3.08 JMD 486

-86.04%

Eggs

$3.17 JMD 499

$3.32 JMD 523

-4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.05 JMD 480

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 312

$7.42 JMD 1,170

-73.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.77 JMD 436

$5.10 JMD 804

-45.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 JMD 353

$1.61 JMD 254

39.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$4.98 JMD 784

-61.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 253

$6.43 JMD 1,013

-75.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 JMD 294

$1.93 JMD 304

-3.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 JMD 327

$1.93 JMD 305

7.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 318

$1.83 JMD 288

10.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 JMD 489

$3.08 JMD 485

0.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 JMD 142

$2.84 JMD 447

-68.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.70 JMD 1,371

Wine (Bottle)

$11.34 JMD 1,788

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 JMD 249

$2.25 JMD 355

-29.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 JMD 384

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 JMD 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 497

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.19 JMD 975

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$1.39 JMD 220

-7.91%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

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

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

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

$163 JMD 25.7K

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

$21.74 JMD 3,426

$42.49 JMD 6,696

-48.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.8 JMD 8,155

$38.56 JMD 6,077

34.21%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 JMD 2,065

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

$224 JMD 35.3K

$313 JMD 49.4K

-28.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,455 JMD 386.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.93 JMD 4,086

$15.48 JMD 2,440

67.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.38 JMD 4,000

$21.50 JMD 3,388

18.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

$40.10 JMD 6,319

75.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

$53.5 JMD 8,437

45.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$154 JMD 24.2K

$178 JMD 28.1K

-13.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 JMD 19.9K

$221 JMD 34.8K

-42.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 JMD 96.8K

$562 JMD 88.5K

9.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 JMD 59.3K

$432 JMD 68.0K

-12.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,168 JMD 184.1K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for May Pen: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $154 in Spanish Town and $178 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 32% 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 $1,284 in Spanish Town and $970 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: $154 in Spanish Town versus $178 in May Pen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $856 per month in Spanish Town versus $646 in May Pen – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Spanish Town pay roughly 43% 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 32% less than in Spanish Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.