How Much Cash Should I Bring to Jamaica? (2024 Adjusted Costs) (2024)

Timeo Buehrer on Unsplash

When traveling to Jamaica, carrying about J$50,000 in cash should be sufficient for your initial 10 days or so. While the adoption of card payments and contactless payments is growing in Jamaica, cash is still very common. We recommend withdrawing what you need from a local ATM using a debit card that waives foreign transaction fees like the Wise Multi-Currency card.

ATMs that are capable of reading your international cards are plentiful in Jamaica. If you really want to exchange cash before you leave home instead (which we strongly discourage), be aware that your bank will impose a US$20 or more fee per transaction in addition to offering very weak JMD exchange rates.

Let's calculate your main travel expenses for Jamaica in more detail, and see why travel debit cards like the Wise Multi-Currency card are the best companions for your overseas trips.

Do I Even Need Cash in Jamaica?

In many Jamaican cities from Kingston to Montego Bay, the need for cash is diminishing as card and contactless payments become more widespread. Major cities, smaller towns, and rural areas are well-equipped for card payments these days.

However, it's a good idea to have some Jamaican Dollars in cash on hand for tips, small purchases, and emergencies.

Standard Travel Costs to Expect in Jamaica in 2024

With accommodation already paid for, your primary expenses will be food and activities.

In terms of food, you could have a frugal J$5,000 daily food budget, but a more comfortable budget would be around J$9,000 per day, with the occasional splurge of J$13,000 to J$15,000 for a fancy meal.

Daily out-of-pocket expenses for transit, museums, and attractions will vary depending on your travel style. You can expect J$8,000 per person per day as a reasonable estimate, though you might spend more:

• Meals: J$5,000 - J$9,000 per day
• Transportation: J$2,000 per day
• Attractions: J$2,000 - J$6,000 per ticket

To get an even more accurate sense of the 2024 cost of living in Jamaica, we've listed a rough estimate of how much daily expenses (plus hotels, for reference) cost based on data from Booking.com and Numbeo's Cost of Living database:

How Much Cash Should I Bring to Jamaica?

While you'll be able to buy many goods and services with a debit or credit card, you may want cash for mom & pop restaurants, small purchases at the corner store, and rides with local transit.

Consider starting the first week with around J$50,000 in cash. We recommend withdrawing this at bank ATMs in the city, or even at the airport.

How Much Cash Should I Bring For 2 Weeks?

For a two-week trip, carrying J$90,000 to J$110,000 in cash should suffice. This amount should cover daily cash expenses and minor purchases while allowing you to use your card for most other transactions.

Cash Limit When Travelling to Jamaica

Keep in mind that if you're bringing more than US$10,000 (or currency equivalent) into Jamaica, you must declare at customs and borders control to comply with money laundering regulations.

Carrying this large amount of cash is also at personal risk to you. Using cards is safer, as it reduces the risk of theft and allows you to freeze your funds in case you misplace your cards.

What's the Best Way to Get Jamaican Dollars in Cash?

The most efficient method for obtaining Jamaican Dollars is withdrawing cash from local ATMs after arriving in Jamaica. Just make sure your debit card does not charge foreign transaction fees to minimize costs. ATMs provide much lower fees compared to airport kiosks or currency exchange at banks.

Wise Multi-Currency Account: Spend Jamaican Dollars Like a Local

In our opinion, Wise is the best all-round option. Its VISA debit card links to an online account and app where you can add, receive, convert, transfer, and spend money in over 50 currencies, including Jamaican Dollars.

The best part is the fees are low and fully transparent. When converting your home currency to the local currency (Jamaican Dollars), Wise applies the real mid-market rate. It charges a minimal fixed fee, often ranging from as low as 0.35% to slightly above 2% for less common currency corridors.

Once you have Jamaican Dollars loaded onto your account, you'll be able to pay with the local currency with your Wise card. You'll be treated as a local cardholder, bypassing both the typical foreign transaction fees and dynamic currency conversions.

Monito Score 2024

• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

Go to Wise ❯

Furthermore, Wise enables you to withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide without incurring any fees, up to a monthly limit of $100 USD. (Third-party ATM fees may still apply.) Once the $100 limit is exceeded, each withdrawal will be subject to a 1.75% fee.

• Free account opening and VISA debit card;
• Fee-free ATM withdrawals of up to $100 per month;
• Free and instant transfers between Wise account holders;
• Noforeign transaction fees;
• Get local bank details in 10 countries;
• Instant notifications on transactions and real-time spending reports;
• Fixed fee ranging from 0.35% to 2% for currency exchange;

More info: Read our Wise review or visit their website.

Go to Wise ❯

Why Trust Monito?

You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

Learn More About Monito

• 

  Monito is trusted by 15+ million users across the globe.

• 

  Monito's experts spend hours researching and testing services so that you don't have to.

• 

  Our recommendations are always unbiased and independent.