North America · Kingston
Cost of living in Jamaica
Jamaica is 39% cheaper than the US, ranking #60 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Jamaica, housing & utilities is the priciest category relative to the world (135), while health is the most affordable (57).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $61,000 in Jamaica.
Quality of life
58/100 · #150 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Jamaica
Europeans first saw Jamaica when Christopher COLUMBUS arrived in 1494, and the Spanish settled the island early in the 16th century. The Native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced with African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter-million slaves, many of whom became small farmers.
Read the full background
Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958, it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurring violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, corruption, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Jamaica expensive to live in?
Jamaica is 39% cheaper than the US, ranking #60 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is housing & utilities; health costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Jamaica?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $61,000 in Jamaica, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Jamaica cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 61.1, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Jamaica?
Jamaica scores 58 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#150 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 72 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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