Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Athens or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Kingston. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Kingston?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €127Kingston €100
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Kingston is €100. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Kingston €59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Kingston €118
Compare Hotels in Athens and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Kingston? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Athens Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Kingston €27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
-
Airport Bus for Two€6.40
-
Metro€1.50
-
Metro€2.00
-
Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
-
Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Athens Airport To Piraeus Port / Hotel Private Luxury Transfer : $44
- Private Transfer from /to Athens International Airport: $32
- Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-Athens Airport to Corinth-Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi: $218
- "Luxurious Transfer": $48
- A mini Embark / Disembark Tour In Athens With Transfers from airport / port.: $259
- AIRPORT TRANSFER in Athens : $28
- Accessible Private Transfer WAV from Athens Airport to Port Rafina: $43
- Airport Private Transfers: $79
- Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $28
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Car: $127
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Van: $113
- Airport Transfer: Athens to Athens Airport ATH by Business Car: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston : $255
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast : $240
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $230
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $215
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Kingston Airport to & From Sandals Ocho Rios Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $168
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayAthens €37Kingston €24
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
-
Ice cream€3.00
-
Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $26
- Street Food Tour Market & City Centre: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $46
- Greek Street Food Tour: $52
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $52
- Street Food Tour with Local Guide and 7 Tastings: $57
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $60
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Greek Spirits & Meze, Food Tour in Athens: $62
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Class with Meal: $64
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $64
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Kingston €12
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.23
- Self Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour into Byzantine Gems: $4.63
- Acropolis Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.70
- 360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens: $6.00
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $6.46
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.54
- Ancient Agora of Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- Ancient Agora: Audiovisual self-guided tour with 3D models: $7.52
- South Slope of the Acropolis audiovisual self-guided tour: $7.52
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages: $174
- 4x4 Jeep Safari & Blue Hole Adventure from Ocho Rios: $158
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios : $85
- Blue Hole and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $99
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Runaway Bay: $142
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $368
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $318
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Kingston €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $17
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Premium Wine Tastings: $36
- Greek Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $43
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $44
- Old Town Athens Wine Tasting: $53
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $54
- Greek food and wine tasting: $54
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $54
- Rare Greek Wine Tasting w/Sommelier by the Acropolis: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $61
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $79
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Kingston, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kingston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kingston and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Kingston.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Kingston, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Kingston?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kingston experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Kingston. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Athens is around the same temperature as Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Kingston. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Kingston. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Athens or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Kingston. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Athens or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Athens because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In January, Athens is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Athens or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Kingston. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Athens is much colder than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Kingston. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Athens
| Athens | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.