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 1,264

$4.66 JMD 673

$15.50 JMD 2,243

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 JMD 9,115

$37.80 JMD 5,469

$151 JMD 21.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 JMD 1,173

$6.24 JMD 902

$9.96 JMD 1,442

Cappuccino

$3.64 JMD 527

$1.23 JMD 179

$7.42 JMD 1,073

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

$1.27 JMD 183

$0.82 JMD 119

$2.74 JMD 397

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 108

$0.61 JMD 88.8

$1.53 JMD 221

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 JMD 369

$1.60 JMD 232

$5.10 JMD 738

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 JMD 455

$2.20 JMD 318

$5.03 JMD 728

Milk (1 liter)

$3.73 JMD 539

$2.23 JMD 323

$5.10 JMD 738

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 JMD 425

$1.58 JMD 229

$4.17 JMD 603

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 234

$1.00 JMD 145

$3.22 JMD 466

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 500

$2.21 JMD 320

$4.94 JMD 714

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 JMD 1,591

$3.42 JMD 494

$24.80 JMD 3,587

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 JMD 1,162

$2.56 JMD 370

$12.82 JMD 1,855

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 JMD 1,137

$2.83 JMD 410

$24.96 JMD 3,612

Apples (1kg)

$6.07 JMD 879

$1.84 JMD 266

$13.53 JMD 1,957

Banana (1kg)

$3.70 JMD 535

$1.60 JMD 232

$6.34 JMD 918

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 604

$1.90 JMD 275

$6.33 JMD 916

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 JMD 331

$1.13 JMD 163

$3.21 JMD 464

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 JMD 355

$0.96 JMD 138

$5.10 JMD 737

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 JMD 303

$1.14 JMD 164

$4.16 JMD 602

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 JMD 322

$1.10 JMD 159

$3.65 JMD 528

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 JMD 181

$0.65 JMD 93.7

$2.25 JMD 326

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.64 JMD 1,395

$9.01 JMD 1,303

$19.30 JMD 2,792

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 JMD 1,815

$3.86 JMD 559

$19.31 JMD 2,793

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 JMD 385

$1.53 JMD 222

$3.40 JMD 491

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 462

$1.61 JMD 233

$4.17 JMD 603

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 JMD 130

$0.71 JMD 103

$0.90 JMD 130

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.4 JMD 7,285

$38.18 JMD 5,523

$76.4 JMD 11.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 JMD 140

$1.94 JMD 280

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.14 JMD 454

$2.82 JMD 408

$3.14 JMD 454

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 JMD 1,213

$4.58 JMD 662

$16.76 JMD 2,425

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 193

$1.14 JMD 165

$1.59 JMD 230

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

$42.7K JMD 6.2M

$38.2K JMD 5.5M

$44.6K JMD 6.5M

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

$32.1K JMD 4.6M

$25.0K JMD 3.6M

$37.5K JMD 5.4M

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

$142 JMD 20.5K

$81.8 JMD 11.8K

$208 JMD 30.0K

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

$22.67 JMD 3,280

$17.82 JMD 2,579

$41.79 JMD 6,046

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.03 JMD 6,804

$34.68 JMD 5,018

$63.1 JMD 9,123

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 JMD 8,126

$24.96 JMD 3,612

$99.9 JMD 14.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.44 JMD 1,511

Cinema Ticket

$12.60 JMD 1,823

$9.45 JMD 1,367

$15.75 JMD 2,279

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

$229 JMD 33.1K

$76.4 JMD 11.0K

$318 JMD 46.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,642 JMD 526.8K

$1,581 JMD 228.8K

$9,488 JMD 1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.72 JMD 3,866

$12.70 JMD 1,837

$50.8 JMD 7,350

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.55 JMD 3,407

$12.39 JMD 1,792

$46.47 JMD 6,723

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 JMD 9,639

$40.80 JMD 5,902

$87.9 JMD 12.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 JMD 11.6K

$37.26 JMD 5,390

$124 JMD 18.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 JMD 94.3K

$308 JMD 44.5K

$1,107 JMD 160.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 JMD 52.6K

$191 JMD 27.6K

$635 JMD 91.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,477 JMD 213.7K

$568 JMD 82.2K

$2,904 JMD 420.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 JMD 130.6K

$496 JMD 71.7K

$1,549 JMD 224.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,684 JMD 388.2K

$2,348 JMD 339.7K

$7,535 JMD 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,120 JMD 451.4K

$2,057 JMD 297.6K

$5,861 JMD 847.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 JMD 97.8K

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

Jamaica Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

161

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

111

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.