Moving to Rhode Island from Jamaica

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Jamaica to Rhode Island? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Jamaica to Rhode Island, you would find that Rhode Island is 2.9 times more expensive than Jamaica overall. A JMD11,876,390 salary in Jamaica would need to be roughly $115,885 in Rhode Island to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Providence averages 61°F vs 89°F in Kingston, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Jamaica and Rhode Island.

What does your salary buy?

JMD11,876,390 $115,885

To maintain the same standard of living in Rhode Island

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.4 times more

Groceries

pay 39.3% more

Transportation

pay 5.8% more

Housing

pay 3.0 times more

Childcare

pay 9.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 65.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JMD = 0.0063 USD (July 2026)

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 Rhode Island.

Moved in 2023
22,120 ↑ 36% vs 2022

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.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Rhode Island compared to Jamaica.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate The World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

JM
24.7%
RI
31.6%

Jamaica performs better than Rhode Island across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

JM
82.0%
RI
90.8%

Rhode Island performs significantly better than Jamaica across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

JM
4.4%
RI
4.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

JM
$10,300
RI
$56,938

Rhode Island performs significantly better than Jamaica across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JM
75.8 yrs
RI
78.2 yrs

Rhode Island 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.

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

Providence Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
61° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kingston Providence
Jan–Mar 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) 42°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 68°/49°F (20°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 79°/61°F (26°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 53°/35°F (12°/2°C)
View all months
Month Kingston Providence
Jan 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) 37°/21°F (3.0°/-6.1°C)
Feb 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) 40°/24°F (4.6°/-4.7°C)
Mar 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) 48°/30°F (8.8°/-1.1°C)
Apr 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.2°C)
May 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.2°C)
Jun 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.7°C)
Jul 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) 83°/64°F (28.2°/17.9°C)
Aug 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.3°C)
Sep 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.9°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) 63°/44°F (17.4°/6.6°C)
Nov 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) 53°/36°F (11.8°/2.1°C)
Dec 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) 42°/26°F (5.7°/-3.2°C)

Data: Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica, National Weather Service 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

Jamaica passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Jamaica passport holders need a visa to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Jamaica

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Jamaica without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Rhode Island than Jamaica?

On average Rhode Island is around 55% pricier than Jamaica, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Rhode Island?

Budget about $28,971 for 3 months in Rhode Island (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 Rhode Island?

From major Rhode Island cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Jamaica and Rhode Island are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Rhode Island compared to Jamaica?

Jamaica performs better than Rhode Island across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Rhode Island compared to Jamaica?

The average high temperature in Providence is 61°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Providence receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.

What language do they speak in Rhode Island?

The official language in Rhode Island is English. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.

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At a Glance

JM
Population 2,818,596 1,052,567
Currency Jamaican Dollar (JMD) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, Jamaican Patois English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 119 911