Moving to Texas from Jamaica
What to Expect
Considering a move from Jamaica to Texas? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Jamaica to Texas, you would find that Texas is 2.3 times more expensive than Jamaica overall. A JMD11,862,496 salary in Jamaica would need to be roughly $90,828 in Texas to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Austin averages 79°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 Texas.
What does your salary buy?
JMD11,862,496 → $90,828
To maintain the same standard of living in Texas
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more
Groceries
pay 7.0% more
Transportation
pay 12.3% less
Housing
pay 2.1 times more
Childcare
pay 6.8 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 37.9% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Texas
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Jamaica to Texas.
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 Texas compared to Jamaica.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Jamaica performs better than Texas across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Texas 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
Texas performs significantly better than Jamaica across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Texas 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 | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) | 65°/40°F (18°/5°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 93°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kingston | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) | 61°/37°F (15.9°/2.9°C) |
| Feb | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) | 64°/39°F (17.6°/3.8°C) |
| Mar | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) | 71°/45°F (21.6°/7.4°C) |
| Apr | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) | 79°/55°F (25.9°/12.8°C) |
| May | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) | 85°/64°F (29.7°/17.7°C) |
| Jun | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) | 91°/70°F (32.8°/21.0°C) |
| Jul | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) | 94°/72°F (34.7°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) | 96°/72°F (35.4°/22.1°C) |
| Sep | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) | 90°/67°F (32.3°/19.2°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) | 81°/57°F (27.3°/13.7°C) |
| Nov | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) | 71°/47°F (21.4°/8.4°C) |
| Dec | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) | 62°/38°F (16.5°/3.4°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 Texas than Jamaica?
On average Texas is around 21% pricier than Jamaica, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Texas?
Budget about $22,707 for 3 months in Texas (based on a JMD11,862,496 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Texas?
From major Texas cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Jamaica and Texas are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Texas compared to Jamaica?
Jamaica performs better than Texas across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Texas compared to Jamaica?
The average high temperature in Austin is 79°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Austin receives around 36.2 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.
What language do they speak in Texas?
The official language in Texas is English. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.
