Cost of Living in Jamaica - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Jamaica
Address: JM

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $821 (excluding rent), and $1,343 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,054 (excluding rent), and $3,153 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 JMD 1,367

$4.66 JMD 729

$15.50 JMD 2,426

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.9 JMD 9,681

$37.12 JMD 5,808

$148 JMD 23.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 JMD 1,300

$6.39 JMD 1,000

$10.21 JMD 1,597

Cappuccino

$3.80 JMD 594

$1.29 JMD 201

$7.73 JMD 1,209

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

$1.29 JMD 201

$0.83 JMD 130

$2.79 JMD 436

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

$0.62 JMD 97.1

$1.55 JMD 242

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 JMD 381

$1.53 JMD 239

$4.87 JMD 762

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 JMD 499

$2.23 JMD 349

$5.10 JMD 798

Milk (1 liter)

$3.57 JMD 559

$2.14 JMD 334

$4.89 JMD 765

White Bread (500g)

$2.83 JMD 443

$1.52 JMD 238

$4.02 JMD 629

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 239

$0.94 JMD 148

$3.04 JMD 476

Eggs

$3.51 JMD 549

$2.25 JMD 352

$5.01 JMD 784

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 JMD 1,727

$3.43 JMD 536

$24.89 JMD 3,894

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 JMD 1,234

$2.52 JMD 394

$12.60 JMD 1,971

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.80 JMD 1,220

$2.81 JMD 440

$24.77 JMD 3,876

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 JMD 952

$1.84 JMD 289

$13.55 JMD 2,120

Banana (1kg)

$3.73 JMD 583

$1.62 JMD 253

$6.40 JMD 1,001

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 JMD 627

$1.82 JMD 286

$6.08 JMD 951

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 JMD 347

$1.09 JMD 171

$3.11 JMD 486

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 JMD 388

$0.97 JMD 151

$5.16 JMD 807

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 JMD 320

$1.11 JMD 174

$4.08 JMD 638

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 JMD 348

$1.10 JMD 172

$3.65 JMD 572

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 JMD 194

$0.64 JMD 100.0

$2.22 JMD 347

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.48 JMD 1,483

$8.85 JMD 1,385

$18.96 JMD 2,967

Wine (Bottle)

$12.38 JMD 1,936

$3.81 JMD 596

$19.04 JMD 2,979

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 JMD 410

$1.51 JMD 237

$3.35 JMD 524

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 494

$1.59 JMD 249

$4.12 JMD 644

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 JMD 149

$0.76 JMD 119

$0.95 JMD 149

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.34 JMD 7,720

$37.41 JMD 5,853

$74.8 JMD 11.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 JMD 152

$1.94 JMD 304

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 JMD 484

$2.78 JMD 435

$3.09 JMD 484

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 JMD 1,313

$4.58 JMD 717

$16.77 JMD 2,625

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 208

$1.14 JMD 178

$1.59 JMD 248

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

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

$37.7K JMD 5.9M

$44.0K JMD 6.9M

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

$32.1K JMD 5.0M

$25.0K JMD 3.9M

$37.5K JMD 5.9M

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

$143 JMD 22.3K

$82.3 JMD 12.9K

$209 JMD 32.7K

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

$23.09 JMD 3,612

$18.15 JMD 2,840

$42.55 JMD 6,659

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.02 JMD 7,357

$34.68 JMD 5,426

$63.1 JMD 9,866

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.9 JMD 8,742

$24.83 JMD 3,886

$99.3 JMD 15.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.63 JMD 1,663

Cinema Ticket

$12.73 JMD 1,991

$9.54 JMD 1,494

$15.91 JMD 2,489

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

$222 JMD 34.8K

$74.2 JMD 11.6K

$309 JMD 48.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,586 JMD 561.2K

$1,557 JMD 243.7K

$9,344 JMD 1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.16 JMD 4,093

$12.43 JMD 1,945

$49.73 JMD 7,781

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.85 JMD 3,732

$12.55 JMD 1,963

$47.06 JMD 7,363

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 JMD 10.2K

$39.93 JMD 6,247

$86.0 JMD 13.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 JMD 12.6K

$37.27 JMD 5,831

$124 JMD 19.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 JMD 104.4K

$315 JMD 49.3K

$1,134 JMD 177.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 JMD 55.1K

$185 JMD 28.9K

$616 JMD 96.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,467 JMD 229.5K

$564 JMD 88.3K

$2,884 JMD 451.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$923 JMD 144.5K

$507 JMD 79.3K

$1,584 JMD 247.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,747 JMD 429.8K

$2,403 JMD 376.1K

$7,713 JMD 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,124 JMD 488.8K

$2,061 JMD 322.4K

$5,871 JMD 918.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$690 JMD 107.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.34

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

Last update: February 1, 2026

By City in Jamaica

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Alexandria	-	44	$633	$885	$1,556	$2,022	199.8	85.42
2	Alligator Pond	-						149.74	67.09
3	Bamboo	-						125.78	85.42
4	Bethel Town	3000						253.78	48.72
5	Buff Bay	-	44	$801	$851	$1,941	$1,931	71.51	70.14
6	Bull Bay	-	42	$564	$844	$1,503	$1,605	193.93	142.41
7	Cave Valley	-	44	$778	$871	$1,905	$1,991	25.63	61.12
8	Claremont	-		$58.1	$54.0	$121	$107	318.77	93.04
9	Constant Spring	-						164.99	142.41
10	Duncans	-	44	$686	$884	$1,654	$2,007	38.42	62.44
11	Easington	-	44	$808	$872	$1,778	$1,967	58.49	67.31
12	Falmouth	-	58	$829	$1,151	$2,069	$2,527	273.67	62.44
13	Golden Grove	-	44	$657	$864	$1,989	$1,951	58.91	67.31
14	Gordon Town	-	44	$727	$885	$1,671	$2,025	180.96	142.41
15	Green Island	-	44	$747	$896	$1,617	$2,004	335.8	61.12
16	Half Way Tree	-	40	$608	$805	$1,616	$1,841	123.58	142.41
17	Kingston	660000	73	$843	$1,476	$2,084	$3,438	36.48	147.37
18	Linstead	-	45	$788	$902	$1,912	$2,009	184.41	107.84
19	Lluidas Vale	-	44	$724	$871	$1,873	$1,976	285.32	107.84
20	Lucea	-	44	$685	$875	$1,603	$1,999	160.41	61.12
21	Manchioneal	-	44	$679	$870	$1,956	$1,993	153.77	70.14
22	Mandeville	-	38	$634	$772	$1,506	$1,852	300.89	67.09
23	May Pen	-		$430	$628	$1,016	$1,319	231.03	46.63
24	Montego Bay	110115	65	$624	$1,275	$1,516	$2,246	222.98	90.3
25	Negril	-	43	$619	$873	$1,561	$1,864	145.86	67.15
26	Ocho Rios	-	46	$704	$918	$1,658	$2,882	211.7	93.04
27	Old Harbour	-	36	$636	$707	$1,596	$1,594	15.73	107.84
28	Portmore	170000	55	$800	$1,118	$1,989	$2,618	431.9	158.06
29	Richmond	-						88.68	93.04
30	Rocky Point	-						108.17	46.63
31	Saint Andrew Parish	-	57	$562	$1,128	$1,329	$2,587	-	-
32	Saint Ann's Bay	-	67	$785	$1,321	$1,793	$2,758	-	-
33	Santa Cruz	-	44	$618	$885	$2,001	$2,028	137.33	49.21
34	Seaforth	-						65.96	78.05
35	Spanish Town	131056	43	$625	$864	$1,473	$2,026	66.1	139.88
36	Stony Hill	-	55	$672	$1,111	$2,056	$3,707	88.52	142.41
37	Wakefield	-						16.22	48.72

Jamaica Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Jamaica - Frequently Asked Questions

Jamaica offers a mix of value, with affordable options outside main tourist zones and higher costs where resorts cluster. For many, the Cost of Living in Jamaica feels manageable when you lean on local markets, casual eateries, and longer-term housing rather than short-term resort stays. You can stretch a budget by choosing walkable neighborhoods, using public transport, and cooking at home. Seasonal shifts affect availability and prices in popular areas, so plan accordingly. Tip: Start with a longer trial stay in a neighborhood that matches your pace, then adjust as you learn the rhythm of the island.

For daily routines, you search housing by neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle; use local agents and online listings, but view places in person and check water, power, and safety. Food options range from busy street vendors to markets and casual eateries; buying fresh fruit, seafood, and staples supports a balanced budget. Transport is flexible: route buses, shared taxis, or a modest rental car, with walking or cycling possible in smaller towns. Co-working spaces and cafes host digital nomads, making errands like banking and postal services easier in bigger towns. Jamaica living cost varies by area, so pick a base that aligns with work and play. Tip: Build a simple weekly plan to balance work hours and exploration.

Quality of life shines when you pair a clear budgeting framework with flexible routines. Try a simple approach like a 50/30/20 split for housing, essentials, and discretionary spend, then adjust by season and location. Favor neighborhoods that align with your pace – urban in Kingston or beach-adjacent in Montego Bay – while keeping a base with access to groceries, clinics, and coworking. Save by cooking at home, buying seasonal produce, using public transport, and taking advantage of low-cost community events. Plan for hurricane season and off-peak travel to balance energy and safety. Tip: Keep a loose calendar of monthly expenses and a short list of must-haves for easy re-planning.