How Much Does It Cost to Live In Jamaica?
Jamaica is a lovely place to live if you have money.
It is filled with adventures and fun things to do, but most Jamaicans cannot enjoy all the goodies that this island has to offer because they lack financial income.
However, the food is good and the general costs of living, apart from petrol and imported goods are reasonable.
What is expensive is the rent: for example, a decent one-bedroom apartment in a nice area would probably cost $400 per month, and with utilities costing around $150 per month, there is hardly any amount that’s left for leisure activities.
Jamaica : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Food is relatively expensive if you take into consideration their paychecks, so eating out isn’t recommended if you want to save up money.
Of course, there are always inexpensive restaurants with delicious food for 5$, but if you go to a mid-range restaurant, expect the prices to be like anywhere in Europe.
MARKETS
The price of groceries is very high compared to even European prices.
Though it is cheaper to cook, definitely, than to go out and eat in restaurants, groceries are still pretty expensive.
Jamaica is actually known for having high prices of food and transportation.
For example, expect a loaf of bread to cost over 2$.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is also expensive in this country.
For example, a normal work day where you have to travel back and forth using public transportation, together with that day’s lunch would cost on average around 10$ per day.
A monthly pass for public transport costs around 32$ and a one-way ticket less than a dollar.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are also expensive and on par with European most expensive cities, with one difference: here, the internet is more expensive, too.
So, all the basic utilities, including gas, electricity, heating, cooling, and garbage services, cost almost 110$ for a larger apartment of about 85m2.
SPORTS & LEISURE
There are plenty of ways to enjoy your time in Jamaica: lovely beaches, sand, sun, strolling around its streets…if you want to add to that some physical activity, you will have to pay around 46$ for such a pleasure.
And if you have some movies on your mind, going to the cinema will cost you 10$ per ticket.
CLOTHING & SHOES
One thing that is cheap in Jamaica is clothing.
So if you’re planning on spending any money on clothes – that might be a good idea since the prices are half as much as they are in Europe.
For good, quality jeans, you’ll have to pay only around 26.7$ while quality sneakers are around 60$.
The interesting thing is that light pieces of clothing like summer dresses and shirts cost almost the same as jeans.
RENT PER MONTH
Rent is expensive but largely depends on whether you’re staying in a rural area or closer to the cities.
The rent would average at around $350 per month, because outside of the city it would cost somewhere around 282.3$, while in the center of one of the cities, it would cost above 430.39$ per month.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Jamaica
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $5.12 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $2.28 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.76 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $2.81 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.55 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.72 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.98 |
| Monthly Pass | $32.63 |
| Gasoline | $1.27 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $106.12 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.06 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $42.08 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $45.86 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $10.86 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $9.79 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $26.7 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $23.49 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $55.90 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $430.39 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $282.3 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $954.40 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Jamaica?
The largest part of the expenses of Jamaica’s citizen is spent on food – in markets.
Without a doubt, that is their biggest expense.
An average person living in Jamaica also spends a lot of his/her money on rent: it is not as expensive as it is in Europe, but it’s rather high in comparison to their incomes.
Transportation is also very high on Jamaican list of expenses, because it’s impossible to roam around Jamaica’s big cities on foot – both because of crime and size of the aforementioned cities.
Average Costs Breakdown
Jamaica: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
With such high expenses, average monthly net salary is shockingly low.
It is almost impossible to cover all expenses, bills and buy food, enjoy sports and buy some clothes with such an average income.
Minimum wages in Jamaica are incredibly low 254.53$.
Having said that, it’s clear to see why the people of Jamaica have a hard time making ends meet and why crime is so widespread on the streets of Jamaica.
Many tourists have said that, if you want to live comfortably, you will need around 1000$, which is twice as much as their average monthly salary.
Jamaica Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Jamaica Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: HIGH
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Cost of Living by City in Jamaica
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Kingston | 64.59 |
It would be nice to give a list of more important stock… like sugar, flour, rice, corn meal, JF Flour , cooking oil etc.