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 $2,626 per month in United States vs $826 in Jamaica, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $1,356 in Jamaica, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $1,885 in Jamaica, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 218% higher than in Jamaica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while Jamaica is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$11.25 JMD 1,767

76.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

3.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$8.07 JMD 1,267

51.05%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$4.39 JMD 690

27.33%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.20 JMD 189

131.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.71 JMD 112

207.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.25 JMD 354

160.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$3.86 JMD 607

107.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$3.73 JMD 586

-71.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.27 JMD 513

12.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.59 JMD 250

193.08%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$3.88 JMD 609

8.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$11.91 JMD 1,870

7.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$8.21 JMD 1,290

51.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$8.80 JMD 1,383

92.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$6.61 JMD 1,039

-20.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$3.76 JMD 591

-55.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.90 JMD 769

-11.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.67 JMD 420

85.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.76 JMD 434

2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.46 JMD 386

26.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.58 JMD 405

-15.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.39 JMD 218

62.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$9.96 JMD 1,565

3.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.12 JMD 1,903

22.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.76 JMD 433

-24.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.22 JMD 506

13.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.97 JMD 152

145.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$45.88 JMD 7,207

40.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$0.97 JMD 153

264.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.12 JMD 490

-40.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$7.54 JMD 1,184

302.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.32 JMD 208

-24.24%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$40.9K JMD 6.4M

-13.12%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$28.8K JMD 4.5M

-10.21%

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

$222 $222

$155 JMD 24.4K

43.09%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$27.02 JMD 4,244

126.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$50.1 JMD 7,875

48.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$54.3 JMD 8,526

-18.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$14.81 JMD 2,327

50.91%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$13.48 JMD 2,118

11.50%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$344 JMD 54.0K

316.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$5,151 JMD 809.2K

402.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$29.66 JMD 4,659

80.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$29.21 JMD 4,588

48.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$76.8 JMD 12.1K

19.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$92.1 JMD 14.5K

23.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$819 JMD 128.6K

99.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$431 JMD 67.6K

208.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$1,754 JMD 275.5K

48.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$1,141 JMD 179.2K

93.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$3,971 JMD 623.7K

-16.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$3,267 JMD 513.2K

-18.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$762 JMD 119.7K

465.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

9.61

-35.38%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Jamaica: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $177 in Jamaica. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $955 in Kingston.

Average salary: $4,526 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 806% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 42% more in United States.

Public transport is 575% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 502% 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 269% 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 269% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 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.