Moving to Iowa from Jamaica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Jamaica to Iowa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Jamaica to Iowa, you would find that Iowa is 2.2 times more expensive than Jamaica overall. A JMD11,876,390 salary in Jamaica would need to be roughly $82,908 in Iowa to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Des Moines averages 60°F vs 89°F in Kingston, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Jamaica and Iowa.
What does your salary buy?
JMD11,876,390 → $82,908
To maintain the same standard of living in Iowa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.0 times more
Groceries
pay 3.3% more
Transportation
pay 30.4% less
Housing
pay 69.4% more
Childcare
pay 6.5 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 43.2% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Jamaica to Iowa.
people moved from Jamaica to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
14.792,370
Jamaica
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iowa compared to Jamaica.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Jamaica performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs significantly better than Jamaica across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs significantly better than Jamaica across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs significantly better than Jamaica across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kingston | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kingston | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) |
| Mar | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Apr | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) |
| May | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) |
| Jun | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) |
| Jul | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) |
| Sep | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) |
| Nov | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service, Jamaica,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Jamaica and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Jamaica passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States passport holder visiting Jamaica
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa than Jamaica?
On average Iowa is around 11% pricier than Jamaica, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Iowa?
Budget about $20,727 for 3 months in Iowa (based on a JMD11,876,390 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iowa?
From major Iowa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Jamaica and Iowa are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Iowa compared to Jamaica?
Jamaica performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iowa compared to Jamaica?
The average high temperature in Des Moines is 60°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Des Moines receives around 36.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.
What language do they speak in Iowa?
The official language in Iowa is English. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.
