Moving to United States from Jamaica
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Jamaica to United States — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Jamaica to United States, you would find that United States is 56.9% more expensive than Jamaica overall. A JMD12,000,000 salary in Jamaica would need to be roughly $119,000 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 89°F in Kingston, making it significantly cooler.
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How your spending power changes when you relocate from Jamaica to United States.
What does your salary buy?
JMD12,000,000 → $119,000
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 67.1% more
Groceries
pay 4.7% less
Transportation
pay 5.9% less
Housing
pay 2.4 times more
Childcare
pay 3.6 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 26.4% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Jamaica to United States, and how the trend has changed.
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
How Jamaica and United States stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Jamaica generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Jamaica leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Jamaica generally does better on employment & economy, though United States leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States generally does better on family life, though Jamaica leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Tax Admministration of Jamaica (2016), Internal Revenue Service (2016), The World Factbook (2010). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kingston | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kingston | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°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 United States than Jamaica?
Day-to-day costs in United States run about 57% higher than Jamaica on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a JMD12,000,000 comparable salary, that's around $29,750 in United States for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United States?
With 38.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United States can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Jamaica and United States.
Is United States safe for expats?
United States generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in United States is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 49.4 in Jamaica. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Jamaica?
Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 4.6 in Jamaica. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jamaica: 74).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Jamaica?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.
