You’re holding a crisp 1000 Jamaican dollar bill—the one with the "The Right Excellent Isaac Barrant and The Right Excellent Begum Samru" on it if it's the newer polymer series, or perhaps you're just looking at a digital balance. You want to know what it's worth in "real" money, or at least in U.S. greenbacks.
Honestly, the answer isn’t a single number. It’s a moving target.
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, 1000 JMD to USD is sitting at roughly $6.34.
But wait. If you walk into a cambio in Montego Bay or a bank in New Kingston, you aren't getting 6 dollars and 34 cents. That’s the mid-market rate—the "perfect" world rate that banks use to trade with each other. For you and me? The reality is a bit more expensive.
Why your 1000 JMD feels like it's shrinking
Exchange rates are basically just a giant tug-of-war. On one side, you've got Jamaica’s tourism and remittances pushing the value up. On the other, you've got the need to import fuel and food pulling it down.
In late 2025, we saw the Jamaican dollar hit an all-time low, with the USD/JMD pair touching about 161.86. Since then, things have stabilized a little. The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has been pretty active, and the massive influx of cash during the December 2025 holiday season—about $21.7 billion extra in circulation—is currently being "mopped up" or redeemed. This usually helps keep the exchange rate from spiraling.
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If you’re looking to swap that 1000 JMD today, here’s the breakdown of what you might actually see:
- Official Mid-Market: ~$6.34 USD
- At a local Cambio (Buying USD): You'll likely get closer to $6.10 or $6.15.
- Using a Credit Card: Probably around $6.25, though your bank might tack on a 3% foreign transaction fee, which basically eats your lunch.
The hidden costs of small exchanges
Here is the annoying part. Most people searching for 1000 JMD to USD are dealing with a small amount of cash. If you go to a physical exchange booth, some of them have a "minimum fee" or just offer a significantly worse rate for small denominations.
I’ve seen cases where the spread—the difference between the buying and selling price—is so wide that your 1000 JMD barely gets you five bucks and some change after the dust settles.
Digital is usually better. If you're using an app like Ria or Remitly to send money, they might show you a rate of 1 JMD = 0.0063 USD. But look at the fee. If the fee is $2.99 to send that money, you've just spent half the value of the transaction just to move it.
What’s driving the rate in 2026?
Jamaica’s economy is in a weird spot. We're seeing a rebound from the 2024 hurricane season, but inflation is still a bit of a pest. The BOJ has kept interest rates relatively high to protect the value of the dollar, but the U.S. Federal Reserve has its own plans, which often makes the USD stronger against almost everyone.
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Specific factors affecting your 1000 JMD right now:
- Post-Holiday Redemption: The BOJ is currently pulling back the excess cash issued in December.
- Tourism Peak: January is high season. More tourists mean more USD coming in, which usually provides a "floor" for the Jamaican dollar.
- Remittance Flow: Jamaicans abroad are sending money home at record rates, which keeps the local currency from completely tanking.
How to get the most for your money
If you actually need to convert 1000 JMD to USD, don't do it at the airport. That is rule number one. Airport rates are notorious for being the worst on the island.
Instead, look for established cambios like FX Trader or use your local banking app for a "sweep" transfer if you have a dual-currency account. Scotiabank and NCB often have better electronic rates than cash rates.
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Pro tip: If you're a traveler, just spend the 1000 JMD. By the time you pay the conversion fees and deal with the "spread," you're losing 10-15% of the value. Use it to buy a couple of patties or a few bottles of Ting. You'll get the full 1000 JMD of value that way.
Actionable insights for your currency exchange
If you are monitoring the 1000 JMD to USD rate for business or travel, stop looking at the "Google rate" and start looking at the Sell Rate on the Bank of Jamaica's daily summary. That is the price at which institutions are actually selling U.S. dollars to the public.
- Check the Weighted Average: This gives you a more honest view of what the market is doing than a single snapshot.
- Wait for Mid-Week: Rates can be more volatile on Mondays and Fridays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays often see more stable "interbank" pricing.
- Digital over Cash: Always. The paper handling fee is a hidden tax on your wallet.
The Jamaican dollar is expected to hold steady around the 157-158 mark for the next few months. Unless there’s a major global shock, your 1000 JMD will likely continue to buy you roughly six dollars and change for the foreseeable future. Just keep an eye on those fees—they are the real value killers.