Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Msida Cost of Living Comparison Between Kingston and Msida

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,706 in Kingston versus $1,815 in Msida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,847 in Kingston versus $2,745 in Msida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,988 in Kingston versus $3,676 in Msida.

Living in Kingston costs roughly 6% less than in Msida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston 25% above, Msida 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.99 JMD 2,506

$11.58 €10.08

38.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 JMD 11.8K

$52.3 €45.53

44.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 JMD 1,358

$11.38 €9.92

-23.90%

Cappuccino

$5.31 JMD 832

$2.35 €2.04

125.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 JMD 188

$2.38 €2.07

-49.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 JMD 106

$1.14 €1.00

-41.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 JMD 343

$4.63 €4.04

-52.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

$3.49 €3.04

-8.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.10 JMD 642

$1.16 €1.01

253.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.89 JMD 609

$1.35 €1.17

188.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 JMD 249

$4.51 €3.93

-64.75%

Eggs

$3.55 JMD 556

$2.83 €2.47

25.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 JMD 1,830

$8.76 €7.63

33.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 JMD 1,010

$10.79 €9.40

-40.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.24 JMD 1,605

$19.22 €16.75

-46.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.18 JMD 969

$4.24 €3.70

45.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.87 JMD 607

$2.90 €2.53

33.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.50 JMD 1,175

$3.78 €3.30

98.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 JMD 481

$3.45 €3.01

-11.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.37 JMD 528

$2.61 €2.28

29.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 JMD 427

$2.02 €1.76

34.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 JMD 489

$2.34 €2.03

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 JMD 239

$1.39 €1.21

9.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 JMD 1,495

$7.03 €6.13

35.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 JMD 1,791

$8.38 €7.30

36.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 JMD 439

$1.78 €1.55

57.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 JMD 641

$2.42 €2.11

69.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 JMD 119

$2.35 €2.05

-67.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.96 JMD 5,949

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 JMD 183

$5.73 €4.99

-79.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 503

$2.29 €2.00

40.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 JMD 980

$27.37 €23.85

-77.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 JMD 222

$1.51 €1.32

-5.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$44.6K JMD 7.0M

$38.3K €33.4K

16.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$39.5K €34.4K

-16.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$172 JMD 27.0K

$84.6 €73.7

103.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29.30 JMD 4,592

$26.48 €23.07

10.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 JMD 8,167

$29.09 €25.35

79.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 JMD 9,658

$58.1 €50.6

6.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.13 JMD 2,841

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 JMD 2,068

$10.43 €9.09

26.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$362 JMD 56.7K

$379 €330

-4.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,377 JMD 1.3M

$11.7K €10.2K

-28.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.49 JMD 3,681

$88.8 €77.3

-73.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.14 JMD 5,037

$41.07 €35.78

-21.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 JMD 12.5K

$105 €91.5

-24.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 JMD 16.0K

$82.3 €71.7

24.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$981 JMD 153.8K

$1,081 €941

-9.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 JMD 88.7K

$942 €821

-39.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,130 JMD 333.8K

$1,831 €1,595

16.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 JMD 216.8K

$1,518 €1,322

-8.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,880 JMD 451.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,071 JMD 324.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 JMD 115.8K

$2,867 €2,498

-74.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

2.9

225.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kingston: September 13, 2026

Last update for Msida: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Kingston and $1,081 in Msida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Msida pays 288% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Kingston vs $52.0 in Msida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $389 vs $332 per month, with Msida cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kingston vs Msida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Msida. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kingston the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 288% lower in Msida. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Kingston versus $1,081 in Msida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Msida pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,706 per month in Kingston versus $1,815 in Msida – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,706 in Kingston versus $1,815 in Msida, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kingston but tight or insufficient in Msida. The gap between the two cities makes Kingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kingston and Msida are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Msida. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.