What do people like (and dislike) about Kingston?
When we asked expats and global nomads what they like and dislike about living in Kingston, they replied...
"Life as an expat was expensive in Jamaica but worth living due to local people, music, food, nature. Working was a challenge due to mentality of people. But at the end everything worked out well . It is a matter of trust!!! I would definitely like to go back even to live for some time. I have also lived in the Bahamas for 4 years before Jamaica. Beautiful place but the people are not that nice towards the expats. Also expensive and all services were over estimated," wrote a member who made the move to Kingston, Jamaica.
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"Personally, I would rather live in Kingston rather than in a beach area. Actually, even though Jamaicans say "Kingston" the middle class areas are really in St. Andrew, a suburb of Kingston. With the new-ish highway, you can get to a good beach in 2 hours or so and you'll have many more amenities in Kingston than in some of the beach areas. And when you live in a place, these become more important than going to a beach every day (IMO). However, there's a lot of traffic in Kingston, but since you don't have to be rushing to an office for 9 am, this may not be a big concern. Everyone will have differing opinions on this so on your next visit, maybe sample a few airbnbs in different parts of the island to get a feel for it. I would take a week or two to do this, if you can. Kingston is very different from say Mandeville or Montego Bay or Ocho Rios," explained one expat living in Kingston, Jamaica.
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Other Questions:
- What do I need to know before retiring in Kingston?
- What do I need to know before moving to Kingston?
- How do I find a place to live in Kingston?
- What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Kingston?
- What is the average cost of housing in Kingston?
- How do I meet people in Kingston?
- What should I pack when moving to Kingston?
- Where should I setup a bank account in Kingston?
- Will I be able to find a job in Kingston?
- What is life like in Kingston?
- What do people like (and dislike) about Kingston?
- What type of social life can someone expect in Kingston?
- What is the social scene like in Kingston?
- What advice to expats in Kingston have about housing?
- What are medical services in Kingston like?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Kingston?
- Is the cost of living in Kingston high?
- What are the visa & residency requirements in Kingston?
- Why do people move to Kingston?
What do people like (and dislike) about Kingston?
If you live in Kingston, newcomers to Kingston would love to hear your answer to this question:
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is one of the founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and the Founder and President of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.