Jamaica Expat Forum - cost of living in Jamaica
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goya View Profile  Login to Contact From: Spain 2/28/2007 11:39     00abuse reply  I am thinking of moving to Jamaica to live in the near future. I would also like to comunicate with anybody who live´s there, penpal etc. Could anyone tell me what is the cost of living in Jamaica, we are a family of 4. Thanking you all in advance. Diane I am british but lived all my life in Spain and 8 years in Venezuela
NickA View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 3/8/2007 08:47     00abuse reply  I too am a Brit living in Jamaica for 5 months, but my cost comparisons are with Canada where I lived for many years. I live here with my wife and 2 kids. I find Jamaica quite costly. Housing is the biggest expense. I spend $2500(US) on rent for a month for a small town house and about $500 on electricity. I have resisted buying a car for my wife as both the purchase price and financing are high. However, I cannot give details as I drive a company vehicle. Our grocery bill is about 50% higher than in Canada, although we could reduce if we chose local rather than imported brands. The other major expense is school fees. My boys are educated privately costing me about $6,000 each per year . There are government schools, but for ages 12 and above far too few places for students who want to attend. Income tax plus other deductions runs at about 30%. I hope that this helps Nick The cheapest thing seems to be domestic help. A full-time housekeeper nanny will cost about $500 a month.
NickA View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 3/8/2007 08:51     00abuse reply  I too am a Brit living in Jamaica for 5 months, but my cost comparisons are with Canada where I lived for many years. I live here with my wife and 2 kids. I find Jamaica quite costly. Housing is the biggest expense. I spend $2500(US) on rent for a month for a small town house and about $500 on electricity. I have resisted buying a car for my wife as both the purchase price and financing are high. However, I cannot give details as I drive a company vehicle. Our grocery bill is about 50% higher than in Canada, although we could reduce if we chose local rather than imported brands. The other major expense is school fees. My boys are educated privately costing me about $6,000 each per year . There are government schools, but for ages 12 and above far too few places for students who want to attend. Income tax plus other deductions runs at about 30%. I hope that this helps Nick The cheapest thing seems to be domestic help. A full-time housekeeper nanny will cost about $500 a month.
Antoiy View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 3/31/2007 07:50     00abuse reply  I Goya i was born in jamaica and the weather is lovely and the people its not that expensive here to survive if you understand what i mean, but alittle costly feel free to ask any other questions or email me @ anntonettet@yahoo.com
petalr View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 4/5/2007 10:55     00abuse reply  Hello Goya, I am Jamaican who has lived in North American for a few years and the cost of maintain the same lifestyle here (in Jamaica) to when you are in the U.S. or Canada can be higher. In order to keep our living costs down while not reducing the standard of living, we have had to do a number of things: 1. buy local food and produce; imported items will send your grocery biil through the roof 2. Look for rental outside of the prime areas, but close enough to Kgn. It also helps if you can find someone you can trust to help you look 3. Good quality schools come at a high cost. That's an additional expense u may not be able to avoid. We have decided to home school our 4 year old 4. Transportation is something else to look at. The public transportation system is not good, so having a vehicle is a necessity. These are the things that comes to my mind readily. However, If you have any further questions or concerns, I would be glad to help
blessedluv30 View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 4/17/2007 18:27     00abuse reply  I just moved to Jamaica last summer and find the cost of living about what you would find in Spain. I lvied in Spain for about 2 years.. I guess it depends where in Jamaica you plan to move. I live in Montego Bay and the rent is based on where you live. I live in Brandon Hill which is in walking distance to downtown and the beaches. My rent for a new 2bedroom apartment is 900us a month and the apartment comes with dishwasher, stove, fridge, microvave, ac all the standard stuff like the us apt. would have and it about 1200 sq ft. its pretty roomy. food is inexpensive if you cut out all the imported items. Motor vehicle is expensive because of the duty on it. housekeeper is less than a 100us a week. private school can range in price from school to school. My daughter's school is about 600us per term. Your biggest expense is where you live and what you drive... the rest is up to you.. anymore help you can e-mail me at blessedluv30@yahoo.com
sheeraa10 View Profile  Login to Contact From: United States 6/18/2007 17:29     00abuse reply  What about laundry, do any apartments there have washer/dryer in the units, or is there a facility in the building? What do you do?
elansing View Profile  Login to Contact From: United States 6/27/2007 05:09     00abuse reply  I noticed you were going to homeschool. I am looking for information on home schooling in Jamaica for Jamaican natives. Can you give me any contact info?
geyr7 View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 7/10/2007 10:14     00abuse reply  most of the housing for expats includes a washer and dryer. some apartments have communal facilities.
fwade View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 8/14/2007 08:10     00abuse reply  See the following link on the cost of living in Jamaica -- which places it just above Cleveland Ohio. http://francismove.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-expensive-is-kingston-jamaica.html
JamesPriester View Profile  Login to Contact From: United States 9/26/2007 09:06     00abuse reply  I have a home in Black RIver/Parottee Beach and find the cost very/very cheap. Confused as to the fellow paying 2500 US for rent when you can build using indigenous materials for $40 US a foot versus 80 in US. If you wish to live in Negril/Port Antonio, it will be VERY expensive - - - why live among Americano's, stay in Flroida. Price of land is still cheap - - - on South Coast at anywhere from 25K per half acre on beach to 120K on the beach. Try Florida, where it is millions. Buying local foods at the open market, about 20% less. I just had my wholle house painted on outisde (sandsplashed afterwards) for about $800 US for a 1400 sq ft house with much detaling. How much would you pay in the US? The problem is many American's DO NOT want to adjust their life styles accordingly and are missing the boat. That is like going to Venice and complaining "there are not automobiles" - - - drop the ethnocentric behaviors and ideals and adjust accordingly. One must also be creative in locating land, as I did 15 years ago. ON FOOT - - - NOT by locating a blasted real estate developer - - -a major rip off and a possible legal nightmare. Other ways of doing it. Anyway, drop a line if you need information. I can write back to you and answer emails about X1 a week - - - Not sure if I am to put my emails on this site as i fear being spammed, etc. HOpe this helps.
JamesPriester View Profile  Login to Contact From: United States 9/26/2007 09:07     00abuse reply  I have a home in Black RIver/Parottee Beach and find the cost very/very cheap. Confused as to the fellow paying 2500 US for rent when you can build using indigenous materials for $40 US a foot versus 80 in US. If you wish to live in Negril/Port Antonio, it will be VERY expensive - - - why live among Americano's, stay in Flroida. Price of land is still cheap - - - on South Coast at anywhere from 25K per half acre on beach to 120K on the beach. Try Florida, where it is millions. Buying local foods at the open market, about 20% less. I just had my wholle house painted on outisde (sandsplashed afterwards) for about $800 US for a 1400 sq ft house with much detaling. How much would you pay in the US? The problem is many American's DO NOT want to adjust their life styles accordingly and are missing the boat. That is like going to Venice and complaining "there are not automobiles" - - - drop the ethnocentric behaviors and ideals and adjust accordingly. One must also be creative in locating land, as I did 15 years ago. ON FOOT - - - NOT by locating a blasted real estate developer - - -a major rip off and a possible legal nightmare. Other ways of doing it. Anyway, drop a line if you need information. I can write back to you and answer emails about X1 a week - - - Not sure if I am to put my emails on this site as i fear being spammed, etc. HOpe this helps.
sugarbee View Profile  Login to Contact From: Great Britain 10/5/2007 07:40     00abuse reply  i agree fully you do have to adjust your live stlye accordingly. i am moving from the uk with my 3 children in the new year to the north coast, and need info on finding schools setting up a small business ie sourcing stock and finding land. if you can help me on any of these things please email me at telgaw@googlemail.com
affordableweb View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 11/1/2007 13:17     00abuse reply  I laugh when I hear people say it's expensive to live in Jamaica when I know Jamaicans who do it on less than $100US per week in earnings for a family of three. It is expensive to live in Jamaica as an American. You absolutely must change your lifestyle if you plan on making it here. I live in Negril and it is more expensive but we like it here. With the right information I do belive a family can live here for less than what they would in America and with a far better quality of life. You can read all bout our move to Jamaica at http://www.jamaicamax.com
Atrida View Profile  Login to Contact 1/17/2008 22:48     00abuse reply  Hi Goya!! I am venezuelan and I live in Jamaica since 2001. Did you finally move to Montego Bay?? Please let me know, so we can get in touch
Cazwin View Profile  Login to Contact 4/23/2008 10:43     00abuse reply  Hi,My name is Caz & I am a new member & I notice that you live in Mo Bay, can you tell me about the private school that your daughter attends- I will shortly be moving to Mo Bay from the UK. I have 2 girls, age 10 & 13yrs old. We are currently building our house in Mo Bay. Thanks
Trini View Profile  Login to Contact From: Jamaica 5/5/2008 21:48     00abuse reply  Caz, Check with the British high Commission in Kingston, about schools in Mobay, as Montego Bay is called.This cannot hurt you. Also make certain you do a pre-arrival trip before finally moving. On this trip check out grocery stores, and household stores, so you will be aware of what to pack for the move. Good luck TriniJA
kenniebenck View Profile  Login to Contact 1/27/2012 17:20     00abuse reply  Ha NickA what do you do for a liveing and is there some were we i can get info i have 15,782 $ us bus i dont have a shampan diat i i have slep in a iron bed without a mat also if you wount i would love to tlake to you on a phone sometime soon

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