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Boston Beach near Port Antonio, Jamaica

10 Tips for Living in Jamaica

By Betsy Burlingame

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Summary: Jamaica is a well-known island getaway, but living there is not an extended vacation. Expensive schools, safety issues and high cost of living are all challenges for expats. Members share their advice about deciding where to live, finding a home, choosing a school and cost-saving shopping strategies.

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.


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Comments

guest
May 30, 2013 10:51

how much is the water bill in jamaica

isme888
Feb 17, 2015 14:19

I have been reading this expat forum for the last year and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to move Jamaica or any country for that matter as the articles such as this have been extrodinarally helpful and full of things big and small of little that have been helpful. I hope that one day when we finally get things together and move that I may be of helpful knowledge to someone who is in the same boat as I am now. I have been slowly doing research on moving to May Pen where my partner has family and have visited there and other parts many times.occasions We have a house there all paid & rented out; let me say its hard getting good tenants, family members always have to keep after them for rent as there is always a good sad story why they cant pay; so its not a profit making venture but we are lucky its finally paid. Here in Canada we pay astronomically high rent & other house hold bills take 2/3 of our pay, so we dont live high and get by with enough saved to return for vacations. We have thought about moving for years but finally think its time for planning. Its a big jump I know hence giving it lots of time for research. I keep a little scrap book for notes and read the Caribbean paper whenever I get a chance. One of my biggest hurdles is the cost of shipping and employment for myself being a foreign white woman, my partner has his own plans and as a returning resident will have little problem. My thanks to the many contributors on this form; its a wealth of information!

RootsPrincess
Mar 9, 2017 13:32

With the UK deporting Jamaicans back to a country, some have never lived in, its just going to bring more crime. am a duel citizen and living there is nothing like being on vacation. Now that there are more people and not many great paying jobs, you better arrive with a healthy trust fund or a plump retirement pension. A private nursery school costs $500.00/US a year with lunches, but uniforms, and any school-tools are extra. I paid for a 3 year old to go to FAITH BUILDERS EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL, in ST Mary. The mom took a copy of the receipt, to try and get a refund, so she could keep the money to get her hair and nails done. This is how people REALLY are, so keep your street smarts on at all times.. The principal was notified to use the money for another and to NOT give this greedy "mom" a penny of a refund. After 30 years, I pretty much stay to myself with my own family. Best to not become too friendly, as there is always an underlying ultimatum going on.

Boston Beach near Port Antonio, Jamaica

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Help others in Jamaica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Jamaica.

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