I totally agree with you, Lola.
As a Canadian that lived near the American border...we would venture over to the US for certain products that were always much cheaper than buying in Canada. In one instance a friend of mine wanted to purchase a car radio that in the US would cost $100us. In Canada the item would cost around $400us...by the time we bought the item, paid for gas, paid a huge amount of duty...this product came out around a total of $300us...still much cheaper than we could have bought it for in Canada. I still see some items that are much cheaper in the US than Canada....but this is extremely logical as Lola & Rob have pointed out...the economies are different for each country.

OB...I've been reading what both you & Rob have written & if you think you've offended and/or you're debating Rob...I don't think you're getting the gist of his message. If you're truly planning on living down here....there's certain aspects of your preconceived thinking that you will have to let go and this is what Rob is trying to suggest to you....otherwise, quite bluntly...you won't make it & it'll cost you more in the long run.
As someone who has been living down here for 5 years full time now...Rob (and now I) have these questions asked quite often. We find by the way someone responds to the received info, predicts whether they will survive down here or not. I've heard Rob being called negative, anti-American, pessimistic and a buzz-killer when asked how to survive in Jamaica...but the reality is he has survived here successfully, full time for 20 some odd years...this has been no accident.
I've heard & seen many people trying to purchase property, build homes here, start businesses all without success...and it breaks my heart as I know this is a dream for so many people. My wish is that they would listen to someone that has actually made it here & why they have. It's sad when I hear the one's who don't make it, then blame either the Jamaican people or the government or both when the problem is obvious from the outset.

If anyone is trying to live down here and/or start a business...my simple advice is to talk with someone that has succeeded & is still living here successfully.