Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Jamaica instead of New York, you would:

Health

be 17.7% more likely to be obese

In New York, 29.9% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Jamaica, that number is 35.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 25.2% less likely to be unemployed

In New York, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Jamaica, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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be 41.4% less likely to live below the poverty line

In New York, 13.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Jamaica, however, that number is 7.8% as of 2024.

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make 91.3% less money

New York has a GDP per capita of $91,992 as of 2024, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is $8,003 as of 2025.

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Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: New York vs. Jamaica

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Jamaica is 42.8% cheaper than New York
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Size Comparison · See true size
New York is about 11 times bigger than Jamaica.
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Moving from New York to Jamaica · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Jamaica: At a glance

Jamaica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 10,831 sq km. The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by 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. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent 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, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
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How big is Jamaica compared to New York? See an in-depth size comparison.

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