Pros and Cons of Living in Jamaica

Last updated on Feb 12, 2023

Summary: The pros of living in Jamaica include its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and friendly people. Jamaica is also known for its delicious cuisine, which is a combination of African, Spanish, and British influences. Additionally, Jamaica is a great place to experience a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, snorkeling, and swimming. The cons of living in Jamaica include its high crime rate, limited economic opportunities, and inadequate infrastructure. Jamaica is also prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, which can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure. Additionally, the cost of living in Jamaica is relatively high, making it difficult for some people to afford basic necessities.

What are the pros and cons of living in Jamaica?

Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Jamaica responded:

"If you want a measure of what it truly means to live here, get a friend or relative to send you a barrel and go collect it yourself. A day - or two - spent at the wharf, dealing with the arbitrariness that is Customs is a good start. If you can survive that, you might just survive everything else. Whatever you do, don't expect that there will be any order or sense to how things are done. Don't expect perfectly ordered systems, processes and procedures...they MIGHT (not always) exist on paper but the actuality tends to be different," said one in Kingston.

"Relocating here was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I love my life here, I have a great circle of friends - very few of whom are expats," explained one expat in Kingston.

Answer Question & View More Answers

Never worry about paying your medical bills out of pocket again. The innovative Get a quote from our partner, PassportCard. PassportCard allows for a stress-free experience for all expat families, remote travelers, and workers. With a 24/7 customer service and an outstanding customer base of over 2 Million clients, it will feel like medical care at home. Get up to 10% off on your policy now. Get a quote from our partner, PassportCard.

International Health Insurance

What do expats in Jamaica appreciate most about the local culture?

"The things I most appreciate are the people for sure!! There attitude totally different from here they are more laid back than Canadians. They take time out to enjoy the little things in life! The music is another thing that falls into the top 5," replied an expat in Negril.

What do expats find most challenging?

"Be careful about who you choose as friends, because the general advice I give is that people will always take your kindness for weakness. NEVER disclose info about yourself. Stay out of people's business and keep people out of yours. After a while you will see that Jamaicans rarely disclose their intentions or plans. They'll be packing their bags to go overseas but they won't tell you until the last moment if they feel the need to. If you're able to, keep guard dogs, don't stop to talk to strangers, don't listen to hard-luck stories, keep it moving, Don't think you can be a saviour because your life will soon become very difficult and uncomfortable - if you want to help, support, reach out directly to charities. Remember. People here adopt the saying that a fool and his money are soon parted. It's possible to have the best life here but you have to know and understand what you'll be getting yourself into. It's not all beaches and sunsets," said a person living in Jamaica.

"Driving is the most challenging aspect of this new culture, because of the bad roads and driving on the opposite side of the road is definitely a challenge! Health care is another concern of mine, but for now I'm not letting that stop me from living my dream," explained one expat living in Negril.

About the Author

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.