🇯🇲Cost of Living in Kingston

Jamaica · Population: 670,000 · Cost Index: 38/100

Cost of Living in Kingston

Jamaica · North America

Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, serving as the country's cultural, economic, and administrative center. Known as the birthplace of reggae music, the city offers a moderate cost of living with a vibrant nightlife and rich cultural heritage.

670,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $950 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Kingston

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$950

per month

Couple

$1,430

per month

Family of 4

$2,000

per month

Student

$710

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Kingston, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $532.50

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$450.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$280.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$850.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$550.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $5.90

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$5.00

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$30.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$5.50

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$2.20

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$1.80

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.50

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$2.80

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$5.50

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$3.50

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.20

Transportation

Avg: $9.03

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$40.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$0.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$2.00

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$1.20

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.30

Utilities

Avg: $47.67

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$80.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$18.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$45.00

Healthcare

Avg: $21.00

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$25.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$30.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$8.00

Entertainment

Avg: $11.88

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$35.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$6.00

Cappuccino(per cup)

$3.50

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$3.00

Clothing

Avg: $47.67

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$45.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$28.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$70.00

Popular Kingston comparisons

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Frequently asked questions about Kingston

Is Kingston expensive to live in?

Kingston has a cost of living index of 38 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Kingston?

A single person needs an estimated $950 per month to live in Kingston, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Kingston?

Kingston's cost of living index is 38 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Kingston?

Kingston scores 45 out of 100 for quality of life and 35 out of 100 for safety in our index.