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

Name: Jamaica
Address: JM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $717 in Jamaica, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $1,180 in Jamaica, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $1,643 in Jamaica, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 269% higher than in Jamaica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 99% above the global median, while Jamaica is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.67 $19.67

$8.87 JMD 1,395

121.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 $73.9

$63.0 JMD 9,912

17.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.35 $11.35

$8.24 JMD 1,296

37.74%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$3.59 JMD 565

43.45%

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

$2.54 $2.54

$1.26 JMD 199

101.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.80 JMD 125

167.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.44 JMD 383

151.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.12 JMD 491

119.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$3.67 JMD 578

-71.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.89 JMD 454

22.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.61 JMD 253

189.44%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$3.43 JMD 540

22.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.73 $12.73

$11.20 JMD 1,762

13.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$7.99 JMD 1,257

55.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 $16.15

$7.66 JMD 1,204

110.84%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$6.16 JMD 969

-16.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$3.70 JMD 582

-53.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.12 JMD 648

11.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.19 JMD 345

126.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.36 JMD 371

27.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.07 JMD 325

52.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.23 JMD 351

0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.25 JMD 196

75.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 $10.07

$9.36 JMD 1,472

7.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$12.11 JMD 1,905

26.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.61 JMD 411

-22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.16 JMD 497

11.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.96 JMD 151

155.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 $65.3

$49.44 JMD 7,776

32.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 $3.73

$0.96 JMD 151

288.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.14 JMD 493

-43.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.83 $29.83

$8.07 JMD 1,269

269.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.32 JMD 207

-27.27%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$41.6K JMD 6.5M

-29.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$32.7K JMD 5.1M

-19.87%

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

$204 $204

$142 JMD 22.3K

44.22%

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

$56.7 $56.7

$23.24 JMD 3,655

143.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 $71.7

$45.82 JMD 7,207

56.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.88 $45.88

$55.7 JMD 8,763

-17.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.70 $21.70

$10.44 JMD 1,643

107.85%

Cinema Ticket

$13.96 $13.96

$12.34 JMD 1,941

13.13%

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

$1,400 $1,400

$227 JMD 35.8K

515.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$3,677 JMD 578.3K

524.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 $53.3

$26.56 JMD 4,178

100.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 $42.28

$24.21 JMD 3,809

74.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$65.2 JMD 10.3K

40.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$81.8 JMD 12.9K

39.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,704 $1,704

$667 JMD 104.9K

155.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 $1,454

$363 JMD 57.1K

300.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,933 $2,933

$1,474 JMD 231.8K

98.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,420 $2,420

$912 JMD 143.4K

165.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,366 $3,366

$2,683 JMD 422.0K

25.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,596 $2,596

$3,062 JMD 481.5K

-15.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,392 $4,392

$734 JMD 115.4K

498.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

8.34

-21.94%

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

Last update for United States: July 26, 2026

Last update for Jamaica: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $203 in Jamaica. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,575 in Washington, DC and $909 in Kingston.

Average salary: $4,499 in United States vs $752 in Jamaica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 705% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 70% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 498% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 States vs Jamaica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jamaica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 345% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Jamaica, contributing to the overall 345% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Jamaica, but in United States 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.