Kingston - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
We are US state department and there are a variety of housing options, all gated with guards, all relatively safe. We were first posted to a small gated community that was nice and safe and in a really nice area. The State Department drills safety into you so you may feel scared to walk around, but in most embassy housing, you are safe to walk, especially Cherry Gardens area. We have two young kids ages 3 & 5 and Durie wasn't the best for them. Nice pool, but little safe spaces for them to run/play, and pretty anti-social neighborhood. We opted to move to Powell plaza, which is incredible for kids and people who want conveniences/amenities (pool, tennis courts, gym, playground/field for kids, etc). The cons are it's more of a commute to AISK school and embassy, but if your kids are K and above, there is a shuttle and there are shuttles to embassy. I teach at AISK so I have to drive and the commute can be rough if you're not a morning person, or if it rains. Most of the housing is nice but people have had some terrible situations that the government is quick to fix. Neighborhoods are nice if you want to meet more locals and get out of the American bubble. Powell is all American and a lot of events happen there, so if you're social, it's nice to be there. Houses are big. Our apartment is 2.5 bedroom 3 bath and plenty of space for the four of us. Our house was huge, 3 bedroom, 4 bath, living room, dining etc. The houses can get a little run down, nothing is super new here, but most of the neighborhoods are beautiful. Embassy jobs start early to beat traffic. Traffic is mainly bad due to bad planning and infrastructure. - Oct 2024
U.S. embassy housing is either an apartment building with multiple amenities, or a house in a housing compound; most compounds have a swimming pool. Housing is fairly decent. - May 2022
Housing is awesome, spacious, with access to a pool is usual, small yard, or apartment with great amenities within the compound. Lots of bathrooms. Good security. Commute after 7am the traffic gets bad expect to sit in traffic for 30 mins or more. - May 2022
Staff are placed in either apartments or houses in gated communities. They are decent size and almost all housing has access to a pool. People are generally happy with housing. It is not fancy, but it works. - Jan 2020
Housing consists of a government-owned apartment complex (Powell Plaza) and townhouses/single family homes. Apartments in Powell Plaza have two -three bedrooms, and are very spacious and nice. The property has a decent-sized gym, game room, barbecue area, tennis court, racketball court, and a pool. Powell is good for singles and young families, especially for spouses who don't work, since they have easy access to the aforementioned facilities and can meet up with other spouses. Since Powell Plaza is a government owned complex, maintenance issues are generally resolved within a day or two. The only thing that some people complain about this place is security entrance procedures for non-residents. - Aug 2018
Many expats live in housing developments with townhouses, most of which have pools. If you are with the US Embassy, you may also live in an apartment complex they own; both complexes are nice. - Jun 2018
Housing is good. There is one US gov't owned apartment building, Powell Plaza. Apartments are 2-3 bedrooms, bright, open and spacious. Powell provides great amenities including a pool, gym, play room for kids, tennis courts, etc. People in Powell are generally happy with their housing.
The biggest con to Powell Plaza is the distance from the Embassy and traffic. It can take almost an hour in traffic to go about 4 miles. Other leased housing is in gated neighborhoods throughout the city. All are open and quite spacious. Very limited yard space at most of the houses and town homes. - Mar 2017
Beautiful large apartments, and some nice houses. Everyone is happy with housing. - Apr 2016
Housing for U.S. government folks is generally split between apartments and townhouses. The apartments are located in a building that used to be a hotel and was converted into an apartment building. Apartments there are 2-3 bedroom, 2.5 - 3 bathroom units with balconies, washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc. in the unit (no garbage disposals). Each unit is about 1,600 square feet and views vary but most include mountains or the Caribbean Sea, some lucky people have both. Townhouses are spread out around Kingston, many are located in compounds with other expats and locals, all have 24 hour security, most have communal swimming pools as well. Commute times vary from 10 - 40 minutes to the Embassy. Traffic is also a huge factor in commute times and traffic volumes increase during the school year as there is no formal public school bus system. - Dec 2014
U.S. Embassy folks live in the Powell Plaza compound or townhomes in gated communities. We live in a townhome and love it. All places have a communal pool. Our house is very spacious. And our neighbors are a mix of U.S. and other diplomats, expats and Jamaicans. All the kids run around and play outside after school together. - Oct 2014
Houses and townhouses for familes. Apartments for singles. - Mar 2014
Housing is nice -- townhouses, mostly, and apartments. All have pools. Commute times are 15-45 minutes, depending on whether it's raining or not. - Dec 2013
Single family houses and apartments are available in Kingston. Traffic is bad during morning/evening rush hour, but is otherwise fine. - Aug 2011
Singles tend to live in one main apartment area, but there are townhomes and houses. - Sep 2010
Housing for most embassy personnel is in a hotel that the embassy purchased and renovated, and the rooms are like large apartments: living room, kitchen, dining room, 2 bedrooms, etc. Some live out in town in townhouses. They are all very nice. The Marines live on compound. - Jul 2010
Most expats live in a compound with a fence around it. Most compounds have a pool and gym. I feel very safe in them, as the secerity is very good in these compounds. - May 2010
A large variety of housing exists. There are beautiful single-family homes with fruit trees and lots of yard space, as well as many small townhouse developments with community amenities such as pool and tennis courts. - Nov 2009
Housing can be pretty nice, depending on your paygrade. Alot of people live in Powell Plaza. It is a huge tower that used to be an Hotel that is now made into a housing complex. Most people that live there seem to like it. Personally I am glad I don't. - Jan 2009
Most live in walled communities with security, barred windows and an armed guard. Many communites have a pool. - Jan 2009
Most expats who live in Kingston, live in gated communities of townhouses or apartments. Having a guard at the gate helps with who comes and goes. Commute times can vary from 20-90 minutes depending on the time of day you leave. Jamaica does not have a school bus system so many parents are on the road dropping of kids in the mornings, major traffic, and it gets worse when it rains. - May 2008
