Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Jamaica

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City in United States:
City in Jamaica:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in Jamaica is 22.5% lower than in United States (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Jamaica is 35.2% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in Jamaica are 60.8% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in Jamaica are 38.5% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in Jamaica are 14.9% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in Jamaica is 74.5% lower than in United States

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	20.00 $ (3,167.01 J$)	7.58 $ (1,200.00 J$)	-62.1 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	75.00 $ (11,876.29 J$)	63.15 $ (10,000.00 J$)	-15.8 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	11.00 $ (1,741.86 J$)	7.89 $ (1,250.00 J$)	-28.2 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	6.00 $ (950.10 J$)	2.53 $ (400.00 J$)	-57.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	7.00 $ (1,108.45 J$)	3.16 $ (500.00 J$)	-54.9 %
Cappuccino (regular)	5.22 $ (827.25 J$)	3.72 $ (589.28 J$)	-28.8 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.56 $ (405.32 J$)	1.26 $ (200.00 J$)	-50.7 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.08 $ (329.99 J$)	0.80 $ (126.84 J$)	-61.6 %
Markets	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	4.00 $ (633.33 J$)	13.10 $ (2,073.98 J$)	+227.5 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.29 $ (520.55 J$)	2.57 $ (407.73 J$)	-21.7 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.09 $ (330.79 J$)	0.69 $ (109.73 J$)	-66.8 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	4.21 $ (666.88 J$)	3.32 $ (526.06 J$)	-21.1 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.86 $ (928.47 J$)	5.87 $ (929.17 J$)	+0.1 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.52 $ (873.51 J$)	3.39 $ (537.04 J$)	-38.5 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	7.38 $ (1,168.81 J$)	3.76 $ (595.03 J$)	-49.1 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.40 $ (379.33 J$)	3.00 $ (475.48 J$)	+25.3 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.76 $ (120.35 J$)	1.61 $ (254.44 J$)	+111.4 %
Oranges (1 lb)	2.04 $ (323.04 J$)	1.85 $ (292.55 J$)	-9.4 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.23 $ (352.76 J$)	1.06 $ (167.96 J$)	-52.4 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.33 $ (210.25 J$)	1.10 $ (174.51 J$)	-17.0 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.40 $ (221.09 J$)	0.95 $ (150.87 J$)	-31.8 %
Lettuce (1 head)	2.20 $ (349.15 J$)	2.39 $ (379.17 J$)	+8.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.23 $ (352.57 J$)	1.31 $ (208.00 J$)	-41.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (2,375.26 J$)	11.37 $ (1,800.00 J$)	-24.2 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.95 $ (308.43 J$)	2.54 $ (401.78 J$)	+30.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.59 $ (569.20 J$)	3.14 $ (497.78 J$)	-12.5 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	10.00 $ (1,583.51 J$)	9.47 $ (1,500.00 J$)	-5.3 %
Transportation	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 $ (395.88 J$)	0.95 $ (150.00 J$)	-62.1 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	65.00 $ (10,292.78 J$)	46.81 $ (7,413.04 J$)	-28.0 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.75 $ (593.81 J$)	0.95 $ (150.00 J$)	-74.7 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.80 $ (443.38 J$)	5.08 $ (804.67 J$)	+81.5 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (4,750.52 J$)	8.37 $ (1,325.00 J$)	-72.1 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	3.51 $ (555.45 J$)	4.90 $ (776.53 J$)	+39.8 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	30,000.00 $ (4,750,515.00 J$)	37,890.63 $ (6,000,000.00 J$)	+26.3 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	25,966.49 $ (4,111,806.14 J$)	31,786.03 $ (5,033,333.33 J$)	+22.4 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	208.33 $ (32,988.71 J$)	132.48 $ (20,978.38 J$)	-36.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	57.18 $ (9,054.74 J$)	23.29 $ (3,688.33 J$)	-59.3 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	71.47 $ (11,317.40 J$)	47.81 $ (7,570.42 J$)	-33.1 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	46.45 $ (7,354.98 J$)	57.81 $ (9,153.85 J$)	+24.5 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	21.92 $ (3,471.32 J$)	13.84 $ (2,191.67 J$)	-36.9 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.22 $ (2,251.74 J$)	12.63 $ (2,000.00 J$)	-11.2 %
Childcare	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,376.70 $ (218,001.71 J$)	234.13 $ (37,074.07 J$)	-83.0 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	22,676.72 $ (3,590,869.26 J$)	3,299.64 $ (522,500.00 J$)	-85.4 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	52.04 $ (8,240.56 J$)	26.23 $ (4,153.85 J$)	-49.6 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	42.54 $ (6,735.44 J$)	24.00 $ (3,800.00 J$)	-43.6 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	89.61 $ (14,190.41 J$)	67.04 $ (10,615.38 J$)	-25.2 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	113.16 $ (17,918.21 J$)	81.85 $ (12,961.54 J$)	-27.7 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,740.17 $ (275,557.23 J$)	629.81 $ (99,730.98 J$)	-63.8 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,437.60 $ (227,644.19 J$)	362.37 $ (57,380.95 J$)	-74.8 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,900.85 $ (459,351.13 J$)	1,438.68 $ (227,815.12 J$)	-50.4 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,404.42 $ (380,741.24 J$)	897.42 $ (142,106.70 J$)	-62.7 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	304.05 $ (48,146.58 J$)	224.40 $ (35,533.56 J$)	-26.2 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	253.18 $ (40,091.20 J$)	193.80 $ (30,687.95 J$)	-23.5 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	Jamaica Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,332.97 $ (686,128.61 J$)	715.11 $ (113,238.15 J$)	-83.5 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	6.51	8.75	+34.3 %
Last update:	April 2025	April 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	10639	44