Moving to Jamaica from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Jamaica — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Jamaica, you would find that Jamaica is 33.3% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly JMD7,495,927 in Jamaica to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kingston averages 89°F vs 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Jamaica.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → JMD7,495,927
To maintain the same standard of living in Jamaica
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 52.2% less
Groceries
pay 8.6% more
Transportation
pay 17.2% more
Housing
pay 49.0% less
Childcare
pay 87.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 28.0% less
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?
How many people actually move from United States to Jamaica, based on official data.
Who's moving to Jamaica?
Top countries of origin for Jamaica's foreign-born residents.
-
1.6,349
United States
- 4,832
- 2,343
- 1,825
- 1,338
- 1,148
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Jamaica.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though Jamaica leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
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
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Jamaica leads in top income tax rate.
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 performs better than Jamaica across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Washington | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Meteorological Service, Jamaica
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Jamaica. To live, work, or study long-term in Jamaica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Jamaica's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Jamaica
Visa Free
Jamaica passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Jamaica than United States?
Yes — Jamaica is on average about 37% cheaper than United States. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Jamaica?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly JMD1,873,982 in Jamaica on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Jamaica?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Jamaica has 15.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Jamaica safe for expats?
United States generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 70% of people in Jamaica feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Jamaica compared to United States?
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Jamaica, compared to 36.1 in United States. Jamaica scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Jamaica compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Kingston is 89°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Kingston receives around 32.0 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Jamaica?
The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In United States, the official language is English.
