Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Brisbane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Brisbane or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brisbane and Kingston can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Brisbane or Kingston?
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
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 Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrisbane $133Kingston $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Brisbane is $133, 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 Brisbane and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrisbane $82Kingston $63
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrisbane $164Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Brisbane and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Brisbane 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: Brisbane Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brisbane $18Kingston $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
-
Airtrain to the City$9.91
-
Go Card$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE to Brisbane in Luxury Car: $145
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Brisbane Airport (BNE): Private Transfer to Brisbane Port: $208
- Brisbane Airport (BNE): Private Transfer to Brisbane hotels: $186
- Brisbane Airport Private Transfer Service to Brisbane City: $112
- Brisbane Airport to Brisbane Hotels Private Round-Trip Transfer: $70
- Brisbane Airport to Sunshine Coast Transfer Service: $56
- Brisbane Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Brisbane city: $96
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $52
- Brisbane Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Brisbane hotels: $208
- Brisbane To Brisbane Airport or Cruise Transfers: $99
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 Brisbane or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Brisbane 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 dayBrisbane $31Kingston $26
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
-
Hamburger Lunch$5.28
-
Cup of Coffee$1.98
-
Chinese Food Lunch$8.26
-
Ice cream$3.63
-
Japanese Meal$14
-
Smoothie$4.29
-
Japanese Soup$7.60
-
Coffee & Muffin$4.62
-
Morning Mint Tea$2.31
-
Veggie Burger & Chips$9.25
-
Bread$1.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vertigo Dinner: Dining on the edge!: $165
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brisbane $24Kingston $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Audio Tour FREE Ticket: $15
- Brisbane Dark Stories True Crime Tour: $22
- True Crime Tour: $22
- Moonlight State Fortitude Valley Crime Tour Crime Tours Australia: $23
- Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $23
- South Brisbane Cemetery Ghost Tour: $23
- Winery Tour and Tasting: $23
- Ultimate Urban Adventure | Clue-Guided Experience: $28
- Themed Adventure Game: $30
- Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour - The Original: $32
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 dayBrisbane $51Kingston $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
-
Evening at the Bar$9.91
-
Sixpack of Beer$9.25
-
Guiness Beer$5.61
-
Sixpack of Beer$8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $24
- XXXX Beer Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting: $24
- City Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $50
- Artisinal Wine Tasting and Local 2-Course Meal: $50
- River Cruise Brewery Tour with Drinks: $65
- Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $104
- Half Day Gold Coast Brewery Tour: $107
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $126
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $131
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $132
- From Mount Tamborine Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch: $132
- Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $134
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 Brisbane and Kingston, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brisbane is in Pacific 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane 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 Brisbane Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brisbane or Kingston?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Brisbane 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 Brisbane or Kingston?
Brisbane 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 Brisbane or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Brisbane as well as Kingston. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Brisbane this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Brisbane is cooler than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Brisbane averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Brisbane this time of the year. In the summer, Brisbane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingstonin July. Brisbane gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Brisbane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Brisbane usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Brisbane gets 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyBrisbane 25°C (77°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Brisbane or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Brisbane are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Brisbane for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Brisbane is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Brisbane in April average around 22°C (71°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. Brisbane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during autumn. Brisbane gets 214 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. It's quite rainy in Brisbane. In April, Brisbane usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Brisbane gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberBrisbane 22°C (71°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Brisbane or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Brisbane during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Brisbane in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In July, Brisbane is generally much colder than Kingstonin January. Daily temperatures in Brisbane average around 15°C (59°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Brisbane. In the winter, Brisbane often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin January. Brisbane gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Brisbane usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Brisbane gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBrisbane 15°C (59°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Brisbane or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Brisbane and Kingston. Most visitors come to Brisbane for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Brisbane is cooler than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Brisbane averages around 21°C (69°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Brisbane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Brisbane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during spring. Brisbane gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Brisbane usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Brisbane gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilBrisbane 21°C (69°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Brisbane
| Brisbane | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 127 mm (5 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.