Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Budapest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Budapest 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 Budapest and Kingston can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Budapest or Kingston?
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBudapest $91Kingston $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $91, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $108. 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 Budapest and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBudapest $50Kingston $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBudapest $100Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Budapest 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: Budapest Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Budapest $11Kingston $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$7.04
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,205
- Budapest - Bük Transfer: $154
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,314
- Budapest - Szeged Transfer: $136
- Budapest - Vienna Private Car Transfer: $236
- Budapest - Vienna Transfer: $232
- Budapest - Zagreb Transfer: $260
- Budapest Airport - Budapest City Transfer: $35
- Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
- Budapest Airport Transfer: $56
- Budapest Airport Transfer: Budapest City to Budapest Airport BUD in Business Car: $76
- Budapest Airport Transfers: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest City in Luxury Car: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Montego Bay Group transfer to all attractions in Jamaica.: $320
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Airport transfer from Norman Manley international to Ocho: $240
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Transfer from Norman Manley Airport to Kinston Hotels: $200
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande: $200
- Kingston Airport to & From Sandals Ocho Rios Transfer: $200
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Hilton Rose Hall: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Budapest 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 dayBudapest $23Kingston $26
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $32
- Tipsy Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $32
- Budapest Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks: $32
- Budapest Tipsy Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included: $32
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $42
- Budapest Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks and Food Included: $43
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $46
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $53
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Private Street Food Tour: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Budapest $22Kingston $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Jewish Quarter of Budapest Walking Tour: $2.18
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $2.64
- Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $2.64
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $2.65
- Self-Guided photo Safari with Photobook! City Tour: $2.71
- Castle District Walking Tour: $3.26
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.26
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.26
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.30
- Self Guided Tour In Budapest With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.30
- Original Budapest Walking Tour: $3.31
- Budapest Castle District Walking Tour: $3.31
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
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- Blue Hole and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $99
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Tour: A Half-Day Escape in Kingston: $941
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $99
- Bob Marley Museum Admission & Kingston Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $258
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBudapest $18Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Private, Personalized Pub Crawl, 5 drinks included: $27
- Pub Crawl Budapest - with challanges and games: $30
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $33
- Hungarian pálinka distillery visit and tasting: $33
- Pub Crawl - Bar Pass: $38
- Budapest Pub Pass: The Bar Crawl Tour: $39
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $39
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $40
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 Budapest and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Budapest 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 Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Budapest.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Budapest Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Budapest or Kingston?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Budapest 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 Budapest or Kingston?
Budapest 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 Budapest or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Kingston. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Budapest this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
In the summer, Budapest is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Budapest in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Kingston averages at about 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 Budapest this time of the year. In the summer, Budapest often gets more sunshine than Kingston. Budapest gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets more rain in July than Kingston. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBudapest 21°C (70°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Budapest is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around 12°C (53°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Budapest gets 152 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, Budapest usually receives less rain than Kingston. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBudapest 12°C (53°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Budapest during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Budapest in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
Budapest can get quite cold in the winter. Budapest is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around -1°C (31°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Budapest often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Budapest gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBudapest -1°C (31°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Kingston. Most visitors come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Budapest is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Budapest in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Budapest gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Budapest usually receives more rain than Kingston. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBudapest 12°C (53°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Budapest
| Budapest | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.