Cost Of Living For a Student in Jamaica 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: JMD
Average monthly spending for students in Jamaica
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Jamaica?
Students in Jamaica spend around 49,000 JMD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 7,400 JMD or as high as 330,000 JMD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
How do students spend their money in Jamaica?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $11 1,800 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $76 12,000 JMD |
| HIGH | $500 78,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
Students in Jamaica typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 12,000 JMD with expenditure ranging from 1,800 JMD to 78,000 JMD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities7%
7% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $1.9 300 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $13 2,000 JMD |
| HIGH | $84 13,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Jamaica ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,000 JMD with 300 JMD and 13,000 JMD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3.3 520 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $22 3,400 JMD |
| HIGH | $150 23,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 520 JMD to 23,000 JMD in a month on commuting with 3,400 JMD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $9.5 1,500 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $63 9,800 JMD |
| HIGH | $420 65,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Jamaica is 9,800 JMD. The cost of groceries can range between 1,500 JMD to 65,000 JMD. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $2.8 440 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $19 2,900 JMD |
| HIGH | $130 20,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
Students in Jamaica allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 440 JMD to 20,000 JMD with 2,900 JMD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping2%
2% of total expenses on average (2% to 6%)
| LOW | $2.4 370 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $16 2,500 JMD |
| HIGH | $110 16,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 370 JMD to 16,000 JMD with 2,500 JMD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $9 1,400 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $60 9,300 JMD |
| HIGH | $400 62,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 9,300 JMD per month with 1,400 JMD being the minimum spent amount and 62,000 JMD being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $7.1 1,100 JMD |
| AVERAGE | $47 7,400 JMD |
| HIGH | $320 49,000 JMD |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Low-cost alternatives in Jamaica
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options55%
Few low-cost options45%
Based on the survey, 55% of the students living in Jamaica have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 45% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Jamaica
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 640 JMD | 970 JMD | 3,900 JMD |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 480 JMD | 640 JMD | 1,300 JMD |
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 240,000 JMD | 480,000 JMD | 640,000 JMD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 640 JMD | 970 JMD | 1,900 JMD |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 300 JMD | 2,000 JMD | 13,000 JMD |
Internet and cable
| 480 JMD | 970 JMD | 1,300 JMD |
Mobile phone charges
| 390 JMD | 640 JMD | 1,900 JMD |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 770 JMD | 970 JMD | 1,900 JMD |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 570 JMD | 810 JMD | 1,200 JMD |
Woman dress
| 540 JMD | 740 JMD | 2,400 JMD |
Woman shoes
| 510 JMD | 690 JMD | 1,600 JMD |
Men's shoes
| 440 JMD | 540 JMD | 1,100 JMD |
Men suit
| 480 JMD | 600 JMD | 3,200 JMD |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 8,100 JMD | 12,000 JMD | 32,000 JMD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 12,000 JMD | 19,000 JMD | 48,000 JMD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 16,000 JMD | 24,000 JMD | 64,000 JMD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 1.6M JMD | 2.4M JMD | 4.8M JMD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1.9M JMD | 3.2M JMD | 12M JMD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 3.2M JMD | 9.7M JMD | 19M JMD |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 9,700 JMD | 12,000 JMD | 16,000 JMD |
Double Bed
| 6,400 JMD | 9,700 JMD | 12,000 JMD |
Single Bed
| 5,700 JMD | 7,400 JMD | 9,700 JMD |
Living Room
| 11,000 JMD | 14,000 JMD | 48,000 JMD |
Dining Table
| 4,800 JMD | 6,400 JMD | 12,000 JMD |
Sofa or Couch
| 6,400 JMD | 8,800 JMD | 19,000 JMD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 6,400 JMD | 9,700 JMD | 19,000 JMD |
Fridge or Freezer
| 5,700 JMD | 8,800 JMD | 12,000 JMD |
Washing Machine
| 7,400 JMD | 11,000 JMD | 19,000 JMD |
Stove or Cooker
| 6,900 JMD | 8,800 JMD | 12,000 JMD |
Mobile Phone
| 8,100 JMD | 9,700 JMD | 14,000 JMD |
Laptop or Computer
| 8,800 JMD | 11,000 JMD | 19,000 JMD |
Affordable living in Jamaica
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Jamaica?
Around 52% of surveyed students think that living in Jamaica is affordable with proper budgeting while 48% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes50%
No50%
Based on the survey, 50% of the students living in Jamaica said that they don't have an emergency fund while 50% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy47%
We asked student guardians and parents in Jamaica whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 53% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 47% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 49% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 51% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance49%
Easily manages finances51%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Jamaica
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Jamaica
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 8,100 JMD | 12,000 JMD | 32,000 JMD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 12,000 JMD | 19,000 JMD | 48,000 JMD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 16,000 JMD | 24,000 JMD | 64,000 JMD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 19,000 JMD | 32,000 JMD | 88,000 JMD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 39,000 JMD | 97,000 JMD | 190,000 JMD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 32,000 JMD | 48,000 JMD | 140,000 JMD |
House monthly rent cost
| 39,000 JMD | 97,000 JMD | 190,000 JMD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 48,000 JMD | 120,000 JMD | 190,000 JMD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Jamaica ranges between 8,100 JMD and 32,000 JMD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 12,000 JMD to 48,000 JMD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 16,000 JMD and 64,000 JMD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 19,000 JMD to 88,000 JMD. The average rent of a townhouse in Jamaica is around 48,000 JMD while house rental costs can be as high as 97,000 JMD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 48,000 JMD to 190,000 JMD per month.
Apartment and house prices in Jamaica
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 1.6M JMD | 2.4M JMD | 4.8M JMD |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 1.9M JMD | 3.2M JMD | 12M JMD |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 3.2M JMD | 9.7M JMD | 19M JMD |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $69,000 | $100,000 | $310,000 |
Townhouse price
| $89,000 | $210,000 | $780,000 |
House price
| $100,000 | $620,000 | $890,000 |
Villa price
| 19M JMD | 110M JMD | 160M JMD |
The average price of a studio apartment in Jamaica can range from 1.6M JMD to 4.8M JMD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.9M JMD to 12M JMD. A villa can cost you 110M JMD on average with prices ranging from 19M JMD to 160M JMD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Jamaica will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 31 | x86 monthly income | 192 |
Property prices in Jamaica can be x86 to x192 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x86 multiples of the average monthly salary in Jamaica.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Jamaica is around 29%. This means that people pay 29% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 39% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
27% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 150 JMD | 1,900 JMD | 19,000 JMD |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Jamaica
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Jamaica
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 300 JMD | 2,000 JMD | 13,000 JMD |
Internet and cable cost
| 480 JMD | 970 JMD | 1,300 JMD |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 390 JMD | 640 JMD | 1,900 JMD |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 2,000 JMD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 480 JMD to 1,300 JMD with 970 JMD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 640 JMD but can range between 390 JMD and 1,900 JMD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Jamaica is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Jamaica
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Jamaica
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Jamaica is approximatly 190 JMD with meal cost ranging from 97 JMD to 320 JMD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 320 JMD and 970 JMD with 480 JMD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Jamaica.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 640 JMD | 970 JMD | 3,900 JMD |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 640 JMD to 3,900 JMD with the average cost being 970 JMD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Jamaica.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Jamaica is around 130 JMD. Price ranges between 81 JMD and 190 JMD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Jamaica is 77 JMD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 97 JMD and the minimum being 64 JMD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 64 JMD on average with 48 JMD and 97 JMD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Jamaica is between 110 JMD and 200 JMD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 140 JMD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 190 JMD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Jamaica costs around 71 JMD on average with prices rangeing between 52 JMD and 100 JMD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 19 JMD to 48 JMD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 45 JMD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 1,500 JMD to 65,000 JMD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
