How much does it cost to live in Jamaica?


As of the time of writing, the cost of living in Jamaica for one person is $875 and $2153 for a family.

The cost of living in Jamaica is 59% cheaper than in the United States and 52% less expensive than in the UK.

If you’re wondering if Jamaica is expensive, it is not.

In fact, the cost of living in Jamaica is 1.07 times cheaper than the world’s average cost of living.

The average salary in Jamaica is $650 per month, sufficient to sustain a life in Jamaica for about 0.6 months.

Salary in Jamaica typically ranges from $159 (lowest average) to $2810 (highest average).

If you lived in the USA instead of Jamaica, you would pay 2 times more for restaurants, 15% more for groceries, 4% less for transportation, and 3 times more for accommodation.

Just like that, if you lived in the UK instead of Jamaica, you would pay 95% more for restaurants, 31% less for groceries, 25% more for transportation, and 2.4 times more for accommodation. 

In short, the United States and the United Kingdom are 2.2 and 2.1 times more expensive than Jamaica.

How expensive is accommodation in Jamaica?

The first thing to consider when moving to Jamaica is undoubtedly housing, the biggest expense to cover monthly.

In general, $375 will be enough for rent expenses for a single person. 

The average 1-bedroom apartment in the downtown area is around $401, which is an absolute steal compared to the cost of a 1-bedroom apartment in the USA, which costs $1410.

So, it would be safe to say that accommodation is cheaper in Jamaica. 

A 3-bedroom apartment in city areas can cost $919 per month.

However, if you are tight on budget, you have the option to rent a cheap 3-bedroom apartment for $503 per month.

Jamaica has some of the cheapest properties for you to rent or buy compared to Barbados, and the Cayman Islands, to name a few.

You can buy a standard 2 bedroom for $115,384.

How expensive is food in Jamaica?

Living in Jamaica, expect to spend around $352 a month to cover food expenses. 

If you’re from cities like New York or London, you will find that food is much cheaper in Jamaica.

A dinner for two in a restaurant can average $22, and fast food combo at McDonald’s or similar costs approximately $5. 

Fruits and vegetables are the cheapest food in Jamaica, with prices ranging from $1 to $5 per kg, except for apples, which can cost more than $5 per kg. 

The average cappuccino price is $3.11, and Pepsi/Coke is $0.87.

A decent meal in Jamaica should cost around $8 per person when dining out. 

How expensive is transportation in Jamaica?

The estimated monthly transportation expense for a single person is approximately $76.6. 

You can purchase a one-way ticket for local transport for just $0.65.

The monthly public transit pass price is around $34.5 in Jamaica and $64.5 in the USA. 

Gasoline in Jamaica, in general, costs $1.21 per liter.

Taxi is the most hassle-free way to travel around Jamaica, costing $1.21 per km. 

If you love to travel in your car, you can buy a brand-new car that costs $13000 on average. 

Read more about Jamaica for Digital Nomads here.