What do people like (and dislike) about Jamaica?
When we asked expats and global nomads what they like and dislike about living in Jamaica, 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 should I pack when moving to Jamaica?
- Where should I setup a bank account in Jamaica?
- Will I be able to find a job in Jamaica?
- What is life like in Jamaica?
- What do expats in Jamaica appreciate most about the local culture?
- What do expats find most challenging?
- Is there a lot of crime in Jamaica?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Jamaica accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in Jamaica like?
- What are healthcare services like in Jamaica?
- What are medical services in Jamaica like?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Jamaica?
- What are emergency services like in Jamaica?
- Will I need to travel to see a specialist?
- Are common prescription medications available in Jamaica?
- How are local medical facilities in Jamaica?
- As a foreigner living in Jamaica, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?
- What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?
What do people like (and dislike) about Jamaica?
If you live in Jamaica, newcomers to Jamaica would love to hear your answer to this question:
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat 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.