Cost of Living in Jamaica - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Jamaica
Address: JM

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $807 (excluding rent), and $1,327 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,005 (excluding rent), and $3,108 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.78 JMD 1,370

$4.68 JMD 730

$15.57 JMD 2,431

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.7 JMD 9,794

$37.63 JMD 5,876

$150 JMD 23.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 JMD 1,282

$6.32 JMD 986

$10.09 JMD 1,575

Cappuccino

$3.61 JMD 564

$1.22 JMD 191

$7.35 JMD 1,148

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

$1.27 JMD 199

$0.82 JMD 129

$2.76 JMD 431

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 JMD 125

$0.65 JMD 102

$1.63 JMD 254

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 379

$1.52 JMD 238

$4.85 JMD 757

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 JMD 478

$2.14 JMD 334

$4.90 JMD 765

Milk (1 liter)

$3.72 JMD 581

$2.22 JMD 347

$5.09 JMD 795

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 JMD 448

$1.54 JMD 241

$4.07 JMD 636

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 250

$0.99 JMD 154

$3.19 JMD 498

Eggs

$3.35 JMD 523

$2.14 JMD 335

$4.78 JMD 746

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 JMD 1,717

$3.41 JMD 533

$24.79 JMD 3,871

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 JMD 1,202

$2.45 JMD 383

$12.29 JMD 1,919

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 JMD 1,202

$2.78 JMD 434

$24.47 JMD 3,820

Apples (1kg)

$6.32 JMD 986

$1.92 JMD 299

$14.07 JMD 2,196

Banana (1kg)

$3.66 JMD 572

$1.59 JMD 248

$6.28 JMD 981

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 JMD 657

$1.91 JMD 299

$6.37 JMD 995

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 JMD 341

$1.08 JMD 168

$3.07 JMD 479

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 JMD 373

$0.93 JMD 145

$4.97 JMD 775

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 317

$1.10 JMD 172

$4.04 JMD 631

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 JMD 350

$1.10 JMD 173

$3.68 JMD 574

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 JMD 195

$0.65 JMD 101

$2.25 JMD 351

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 JMD 1,471

$8.80 JMD 1,374

$18.86 JMD 2,944

Wine (Bottle)

$12.64 JMD 1,974

$3.89 JMD 608

$19.45 JMD 3,036

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 JMD 403

$1.49 JMD 233

$3.30 JMD 515

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 JMD 483

$1.56 JMD 243

$4.03 JMD 630

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 JMD 154

$0.79 JMD 123

$0.99 JMD 154

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.47 JMD 7,724

$37.51 JMD 5,857

$75.0 JMD 11.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 JMD 144

$1.85 JMD 288

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 491

$2.83 JMD 441

$3.14 JMD 491

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 JMD 1,261

$4.41 JMD 688

$16.14 JMD 2,520

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 JMD 206

$1.12 JMD 176

$1.57 JMD 245

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

$41.2K JMD 6.4M

$36.9K JMD 5.8M

$43.0K JMD 6.7M

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)

$141 JMD 22.1K

$81.7 JMD 12.7K

$207 JMD 32.4K

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

$23.13 JMD 3,611

$18.18 JMD 2,839

$42.63 JMD 6,656

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.17 JMD 7,364

$34.79 JMD 5,431

$63.3 JMD 9,875

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 JMD 8,636

$24.59 JMD 3,839

$98.3 JMD 15.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.53 JMD 1,644

Cinema Ticket

$12.35 JMD 1,929

$9.27 JMD 1,447

$15.44 JMD 2,411

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

$222 JMD 34.6K

$74.0 JMD 11.6K

$308 JMD 48.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,578 JMD 558.7K

$1,554 JMD 242.6K

$9,323 JMD 1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.84 JMD 4,191

$12.75 JMD 1,991

$51.0 JMD 7,967

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.49 JMD 3,668

$12.36 JMD 1,929

$46.35 JMD 7,237

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 JMD 10.4K

$40.64 JMD 6,346

$87.6 JMD 13.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 JMD 12.9K

$38.30 JMD 5,980

$128 JMD 19.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$670 JMD 104.6K

$316 JMD 49.4K

$1,138 JMD 177.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 JMD 54.9K

$184 JMD 28.8K

$614 JMD 95.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 JMD 230.5K

$568 JMD 88.6K

$2,902 JMD 453.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 JMD 143.7K

$505 JMD 78.9K

$1,579 JMD 246.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,690 JMD 420.0K

$2,354 JMD 367.5K

$7,554 JMD 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,167 JMD 494.5K

$2,089 JMD 326.2K

$5,952 JMD 929.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$690 JMD 107.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.34

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

Last update: March 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	$684	$884	$1,623	$1,997	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	$733	$877	$1,687	$1,978	71.51	70.14
6	Bull Bay	-	42	$612	$830	$1,584	$1,602	193.93	142.41
7	Cave Valley	-	44	$818	$870	$1,950	$1,979	25.63	61.12
8	Claremont	-		$54.6	$53.8	$117	$108	318.77	93.04
9	Constant Spring	-						164.99	142.41
10	Duncans	-	44	$758	$875	$2,008	$2,008	38.42	62.44
11	Easington	-	44	$685	$898	$1,933	$1,969	58.49	67.31
12	Falmouth	-	58	$854	$1,164	$1,942	$2,485	273.67	62.44
13	Golden Grove	-	44	$652	$886	$1,657	$1,950	58.91	67.31
14	Gordon Town	-	44	$812	$870	$1,757	$2,012	180.96	142.41
15	Green Island	-	44	$783	$893	$1,710	$2,018	335.8	61.12
16	Half Way Tree	-	40	$698	$800	$1,475	$1,786	123.58	142.41
17	Kingston	660000	73	$833	$1,442	$2,089	$3,431	36.48	147.37
18	Linstead	-	45	$695	$882	$1,986	$2,025	184.41	107.84
19	Lluidas Vale	-	44	$643	$876	$1,711	$1,968	285.32	107.84
20	Lucea	-	44	$801	$870	$1,853	$2,019	160.41	61.12
21	Manchioneal	-	44	$752	$891	$1,645	$2,026	153.77	70.14
22	Mandeville	-	38	$727	$772	$1,857	$1,814	300.89	67.09
23	May Pen	-		$374	$633	$1,022	$1,360	231.03	46.63
24	Montego Bay	110115	65	$651	$1,314	$1,590	$2,228	222.98	90.3
25	Negril	-	43	$664	$865	$1,467	$1,874	145.86	67.15
26	Ocho Rios	-	46	$652	$920	$1,547	$2,915	211.7	93.04
27	Old Harbour	-	36	$603	$724	$1,714	$1,605	15.73	107.84
28	Portmore	170000	55	$800	$1,095	$1,920	$2,549	431.9	158.06
29	Richmond	-						88.68	93.04
30	Rocky Point	-						108.17	46.63
31	Saint Andrew Parish	-	57	$600	$1,153	$1,340	$2,611	-	-
32	Saint Ann's Bay	-	67	$749	$1,333	$1,514	$2,692	-	-
33	Santa Cruz	-	44	$827	$899	$1,690	$2,003	137.33	49.21
34	Seaforth	-						65.96	78.05
35	Spanish Town	131056	43	$534	$844	$1,601	$1,960	66.1	139.88
36	Stony Hill	-	55	$668	$1,079	$1,868	$3,776	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.