Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern 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: Bern or Kingston?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $252Kingston $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $107. 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 Bern and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $163Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $326Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Bern and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Bern 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: Bern Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $34Kingston $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $71
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Bern 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
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Food Meals for one dayBern $60Kingston $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.39
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $7.48
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.61
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends: $9.99
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- City Sightseeing Self-Guided Walking Tour Game: $15
- Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
- Ocho Rios Shore Excursion: Bus Tour of Ocho Rios, Fern Gully and Turtle Beach: $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
- Kingston Half Day Community and Art Tour: $70
- Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
- Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
- Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Kingston $11
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 Bern and Kingston, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern 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 Bern Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern 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 Bern or Kingston?
Bern 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 Bern or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Kingston. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Bern is generally cooler than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Bern, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bern usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during summer. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bern usually receives more rain than Kingston. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBern 21°C (70°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Bern or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bern as well as Kingston. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Bern is much colder than Kingston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the autumn, Bern often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. Bern usually gets less rain in October than Kingston. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bern or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Bern can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Bern usually receives more rain than Kingston. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Bern or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In April, Bern is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Bern often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets more rain in April than Kingston. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBern 11°C (52°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Bern
| Bern | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.