Cost of Living in Jamaica - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Jamaica
Address: JM

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $806 (excluding rent), and $1,343 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,004 (excluding rent), and $3,113 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.74 JMD 1,380

$4.66 JMD 735

$15.50 JMD 2,449

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 JMD 9,953

$37.80 JMD 5,971

$151 JMD 23.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 JMD 1,281

$6.24 JMD 985

$9.96 JMD 1,574

Cappuccino

$3.64 JMD 576

$1.23 JMD 195

$7.42 JMD 1,172

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

$1.27 JMD 200

$0.82 JMD 129

$2.74 JMD 433

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.61 JMD 96.9

$1.53 JMD 242

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 JMD 403

$1.60 JMD 253

$5.10 JMD 806

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 JMD 497

$2.20 JMD 348

$5.03 JMD 795

Milk (1 liter)

$3.73 JMD 589

$2.23 JMD 352

$5.10 JMD 806

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 JMD 464

$1.58 JMD 250

$4.17 JMD 658

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 255

$1.00 JMD 158

$3.22 JMD 509

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 546

$2.21 JMD 350

$4.94 JMD 780

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 JMD 1,737

$3.42 JMD 539

$24.80 JMD 3,917

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 JMD 1,268

$2.56 JMD 404

$12.82 JMD 2,025

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 JMD 1,241

$2.83 JMD 447

$24.96 JMD 3,943

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 JMD 959

$1.84 JMD 291

$13.53 JMD 2,137

Banana (1kg)

$3.70 JMD 584

$1.60 JMD 253

$6.34 JMD 1,002

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 660

$1.90 JMD 300

$6.33 JMD 1,000

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 JMD 361

$1.13 JMD 178

$3.21 JMD 507

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 JMD 387

$0.96 JMD 151

$5.10 JMD 805

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 330

$1.14 JMD 179

$4.16 JMD 658

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 JMD 351

$1.10 JMD 173

$3.65 JMD 577

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 JMD 198

$0.65 JMD 102

$2.25 JMD 355

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.64 JMD 1,523

$9.01 JMD 1,423

$19.30 JMD 3,048

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 JMD 1,982

$3.86 JMD 610

$19.31 JMD 3,050

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 JMD 420

$1.53 JMD 242

$3.40 JMD 537

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 505

$1.61 JMD 254

$4.17 JMD 658

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 JMD 141

$0.71 JMD 113

$0.90 JMD 141

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.4 JMD 7,954

$38.18 JMD 6,031

$76.4 JMD 12.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 JMD 153

$1.94 JMD 306

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 496

$2.82 JMD 446

$3.14 JMD 496

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 JMD 1,325

$4.58 JMD 723

$16.76 JMD 2,648

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 210

$1.14 JMD 180

$1.59 JMD 251

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

$38.2K JMD 6.0M

$44.6K JMD 7.0M

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

$32.1K JMD 5.1M

$25.0K JMD 3.9M

$37.5K JMD 5.9M

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

$142 JMD 22.4K

$81.8 JMD 12.9K

$208 JMD 32.8K

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

$22.67 JMD 3,581

$17.82 JMD 2,816

$41.79 JMD 6,602

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.03 JMD 7,429

$34.68 JMD 5,479

$63.1 JMD 9,962

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 JMD 8,872

$24.96 JMD 3,943

$99.9 JMD 15.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.44 JMD 1,649

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 JMD 1,991

$9.45 JMD 1,493

$15.75 JMD 2,488

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

$229 JMD 36.1K

$76.4 JMD 12.1K

$318 JMD 50.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,642 JMD 575.2K

$1,581 JMD 249.8K

$9,488 JMD 1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.72 JMD 4,221

$12.70 JMD 2,006

$50.8 JMD 8,025

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.55 JMD 3,720

$12.39 JMD 1,957

$46.47 JMD 7,341

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

$40.80 JMD 6,445

$87.9 JMD 13.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 JMD 12.7K

$37.26 JMD 5,885

$124 JMD 19.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 JMD 103.0K

$308 JMD 48.6K

$1,107 JMD 174.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 JMD 57.4K

$191 JMD 30.1K

$635 JMD 100.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,477 JMD 233.4K

$568 JMD 89.8K

$2,904 JMD 458.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 JMD 142.6K

$496 JMD 78.3K

$1,549 JMD 244.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,684 JMD 423.9K

$2,348 JMD 370.9K

$7,535 JMD 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,120 JMD 492.8K

$2,057 JMD 325.0K

$5,861 JMD 925.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 JMD 106.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.34

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

Last update: January 20, 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	$764	$894	$1,804	$1,990	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	$688	$869	$2,069	$1,956	71.51	70.14
6	Bull Bay	-	42	$559	$837	$1,441	$1,664	193.93	142.41
7	Cave Valley	-	44	$715	$873	$1,864	$2,009	25.63	61.12
8	Claremont	-		$52.8	$54.1	$103	$108	318.77	93.04
9	Constant Spring	-						164.99	142.41
10	Duncans	-	44	$663	$893	$1,673	$1,963	38.42	62.44
11	Easington	-	44	$727	$898	$1,664	$1,964	58.49	67.31
12	Falmouth	-	58	$817	$1,175	$1,683	$2,527	273.67	62.44
13	Golden Grove	-	44	$692	$858	$1,689	$1,977	58.91	67.31
14	Gordon Town	-	44	$703	$890	$1,564	$2,003	180.96	142.41
15	Green Island	-	44	$783	$893	$1,554	$1,996	335.8	61.12
16	Half Way Tree	-	40	$610	$808	$1,765	$1,849	123.58	142.41
17	Kingston	660000	73	$835	$1,461	$2,065	$3,481	36.48	147.37
18	Linstead	-	45	$789	$889	$1,938	$1,977	184.41	107.84
19	Lluidas Vale	-	44	$723	$887	$1,649	$2,022	285.32	107.84
20	Lucea	-	44	$671	$879	$1,986	$2,023	160.41	61.12
21	Manchioneal	-	44	$822	$882	$2,088	$1,958	153.77	70.14
22	Mandeville	-	38	$692	$755	$1,715	$1,815	300.89	67.09
23	May Pen	-		$432	$646	$885	$1,363	231.03	46.63
24	Montego Bay	110115	65	$605	$1,301	$1,794	$2,215	222.98	90.3
25	Negril	-	43	$621	$869	$1,709	$1,849	145.86	67.15
26	Ocho Rios	-	46	$686	$924	$1,706	$2,958	211.7	93.04
27	Old Harbour	-	36	$671	$727	$1,780	$1,626	15.73	107.84
28	Portmore	170000	55	$717	$1,112	$1,615	$2,588	431.9	158.06
29	Richmond	-						88.68	93.04
30	Rocky Point	-						108.17	46.63
31	Saint Andrew Parish	-	57	$711	$1,149	$1,585	$2,638	-	-
32	Saint Ann's Bay	-	67	$614	$1,316	$1,673	$2,752	-	-
33	Santa Cruz	-	44	$645	$876	$2,057	$1,959	137.33	49.21
34	Seaforth	-						65.96	78.05
35	Spanish Town	131056	43	$497	$862	$1,541	$1,992	66.1	139.88
36	Stony Hill	-	55	$801	$1,109	$1,735	$3,743	88.52	142.41
37	Wakefield	-						16.22	48.72

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.