Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Jamaica Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Jamaica

Name: Jamaica
Address: JM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,405 per month in United Kingdom vs $826 in Jamaica, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,520 per month in United Kingdom vs $1,356 in Jamaica, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,635 per month in United Kingdom vs $1,885 in Jamaica, rent included.

The cost of living in United Kingdom is about 191% higher than in Jamaica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United Kingdom sits 74% above the global median, while Jamaica is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.52 £15.90

$11.25 JMD 1,767

91.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.0 £65.0

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

15.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 £8.05

$8.07 JMD 1,267

34.94%

Cappuccino

$4.92 £3.64

$4.39 JMD 690

12.07%

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

$2.59 £1.91

$1.20 JMD 189

115.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 £1.36

$0.71 JMD 112

159.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 £5.11

$2.25 JMD 354

207.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 £5.07

$3.86 JMD 607

77.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 £1.23

$3.73 JMD 586

-55.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 £1.23

$3.27 JMD 513

-48.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 £1.63

$1.59 JMD 250

38.36%

Eggs

$4.19 £3.10

$3.88 JMD 609

7.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 £7.38

$11.91 JMD 1,870

-16.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.47 £7.00

$8.21 JMD 1,290

15.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.41 £11.39

$8.80 JMD 1,383

75.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 £2.23

$6.61 JMD 1,039

-54.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 £1.25

$3.76 JMD 591

-54.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 £2.16

$4.90 JMD 769

-40.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.38 £2.50

$2.67 JMD 420

26.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 £1.36

$2.76 JMD 434

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 £1.17

$2.46 JMD 386

-35.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 £0.93

$2.58 JMD 405

-51.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 £1.26

$1.39 JMD 218

22.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.21 £17.90

$9.96 JMD 1,565

143.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.00 £8.13

$12.12 JMD 1,903

-9.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 £2.21

$2.76 JMD 433

7.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 £2.51

$3.22 JMD 506

5.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.43 £2.53

$0.97 JMD 152

253.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$105 £77.9

$45.88 JMD 7,207

129.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.36 £3.96

$0.97 JMD 153

452.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 £1.75

$3.12 JMD 490

-24.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.55 £20.36

$7.54 JMD 1,184

265.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 £1.43

$1.32 JMD 208

46.21%

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

$39.7K £29.3K

$40.9K JMD 6.4M

-2.97%

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

$40.7K £30.1K

$28.8K JMD 4.5M

41.16%

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

$321 £238

$155 JMD 24.4K

107.02%

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

$18.67 £13.80

$27.02 JMD 4,244

-30.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.93 £32.47

$50.1 JMD 7,875

-12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.56 £34.41

$54.3 JMD 8,526

-14.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 £13.83

$14.81 JMD 2,327

26.33%

Cinema Ticket

$13.53 £10.00

$13.48 JMD 2,118

0.37%

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

$1,739 £1,285

$344 JMD 54.0K

405.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K £16.7K

$5,151 JMD 809.2K

339.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.9 £67.2

$29.66 JMD 4,659

206.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.40 £35.04

$29.21 JMD 4,588

62.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 £77.8

$76.8 JMD 12.1K

37.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 £74.9

$92.1 JMD 14.5K

10.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,382 £1,022

$819 JMD 128.6K

68.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,095 £809

$431 JMD 67.6K

154.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 £1,638

$1,754 JMD 275.5K

26.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,814 £1,341

$1,141 JMD 179.2K

58.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,730 £4,235

$3,971 JMD 623.7K

44.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,515 £3,337

$3,267 JMD 513.2K

38.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,329 £2,461

$762 JMD 119.7K

336.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.32

9.61

-44.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for United Kingdom: September 5, 2026

Last update for Jamaica: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,285 in United Kingdom vs $177 in Jamaica. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,926 in London and $955 in Kingston.

Average salary: $3,292 in United Kingdom vs $752 in Jamaica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 626% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 58% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 2050% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 338% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United Kingdom.

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

United Kingdom vs Jamaica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jamaica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 213% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United Kingdom, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United Kingdom consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Jamaica, contributing to the overall 213% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Jamaica, but in United Kingdom it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Jamaica is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.