A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ayutthaya vs. Kingston for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ayutthaya or Kingston?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Kingston? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ayutthaya or Kingston?

Ayutthaya

Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.

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 Cultural Tours in Thailand, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Ayutthaya?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $86, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $123. 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 Ayutthaya and Kingston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ayutthaya $24
    Kingston $62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ayutthaya $48
    Kingston $124
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and Kingston

Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya 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.

Hotels in Ayutthaya


Hotels in Kingston


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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ayutthaya $29
    Kingston $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:


  • River Ferry Crossing
    $0.63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • From Kingston Airport: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $19
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
  • Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $24
  • Private Transfer from Kingston's Airport: $32
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
  • Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $37
  • Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
  • Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
  • Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or Kingston?

Prices for flights to both Kingston and Ayutthaya 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 day
    Ayutthaya $39
    Kingston $44
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya

Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:


  • Lunch for 2
    $4.40
  • Ice Cream
    $0.94
  • Breakfast for 2
    $4.40
  • Breakfast for 2
    $11

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ayutthaya $31
    Kingston $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:


  • Temple Entrances (2)
    $6.28
  • Wat Entrance
    $1.57

Tours and Activities in Kingston

Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Art Walk Sunday Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $9.78
  • Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
  • Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
  • Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
  • Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
  • Mural Tours in the Downtown Kingston Art District, Jamaica: $40
  • Reggae Legend - Bob Marley Museum Tour Tickets: $41
  • Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios : $62
  • Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
  • Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
  • Private Bob Marley Tour Experience: $65
  • Kingston City Guided Tour - Classic: $69

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ayutthaya $21
    Kingston $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Ayutthaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ayutthaya is in Asia 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 Ayutthaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ayutthaya 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston than you might in Ayutthaya.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Kingston?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya 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 Ayutthaya or Kingston?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Kingston in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ayutthaya and Kingston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ayutthaya year-round. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Ayutthaya gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Ayutthaya usually receives more rain than Kingston. Ayutthaya gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Ayutthaya usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during summer. Ayutthaya gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Ayutthaya is generally around the same temperature as Kingston. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 29°C (84°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ayutthaya 29°C (84°F) 
    Kingston 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Kingston in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Ayutthaya as well as Kingston. Ayutthaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.

Also, October to April in Ayutthaya is the dry season. May to October in Ayutthaya is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Kingston. Ayutthaya receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in October than Kingston. Ayutthaya gets 180 mm (7.1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ayutthaya this time of the year. In the autumn, Ayutthaya often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Ayutthaya gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya is around the same temperature as Kingston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ayutthaya 28°C (82°F) 
    Kingston 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Kingston in the Winter?

Both Kingston and Ayutthaya are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ayutthaya throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Kingston. Ayutthaya gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during winter. Ayutthaya gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Ayutthaya is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ayutthaya in January average around 25°C (78°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (79°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ayutthaya 25°C (78°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Kingston in the Spring?

Both Kingston and Ayutthaya during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ayutthaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.

October to April is the dry season in Ayutthaya. May to October is the rainy season in Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in April than Kingston. Ayutthaya gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ayutthaya. In the spring, Ayutthaya often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston. Ayutthaya gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Ayutthaya is generally a little warmer than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 31°C (88°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ayutthaya 31°C (88°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Kingston and Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Kingston
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (78°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Mar 30°C (85°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Apr 31°C (88°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
May 30°C (86°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Jun 30°C (85°F) 102 mm (4 in) 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 133 mm (5.2 in) 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 292 mm (11.5 in) 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 180 mm (7.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)