Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Canberra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Canberra or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Canberra 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: Canberra or Kingston?
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
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 Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCanberra $135Kingston $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Canberra is $135, 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 Canberra and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCanberra $83Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCanberra $166Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Canberra and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Canberra 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: Canberra Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Canberra $25Kingston $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $68
- Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
- Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $34
- Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $118
- Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $82
- Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $71
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast : $240
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $230
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston : $255
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Canberra or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Canberra 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 dayCanberra $35Kingston $26
Typical Food Prices in Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Canberra $17Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $13
- Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $13
- First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $13
- Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $14
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $30
- LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour: $33
- Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $39
- Women's History Walking Tour with Local Guide: $40
- Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $40
- Best of Wildlife Tour: $89
- Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $98
- Beer, Wine, and Spirits Tasting Tour: $112
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCanberra $16Kingston $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Bar$9.25
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $99
- Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour: $112
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $122
- CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $123
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $149
- Canberra Wine Tour: $158
- Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $162
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 Canberra and Kingston, we can see that Canberra is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Canberra 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Canberra or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Canberra 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 Canberra or Kingston?
Canberra 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 Canberra or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Canberra during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Canberra for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Canberra is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Canberra in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
Canberra usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Canberra gets 87 mm (3.4 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 January and JulyCanberra 20°C (68°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Canberra or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Canberra and Kingston. Many visitors come to Canberra in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Canberra is generally much colder than Kingstonin October. Daily temperatures in Canberra average around 17°C (63°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Canberra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Canberra usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Canberra gets 110 mm (4.3 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 April and OctoberCanberra 17°C (63°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Canberra or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Canberra as well as Kingston. Most visitors come to Canberra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Canberra is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Canberra averages around 11°C (52°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
Canberra usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Canberra gets 43 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 July and JanuaryCanberra 11°C (52°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Canberra or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Canberra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Canberra because of the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Canberra is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Canberra in October average around 15°C (60°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F)in April.
In October, Canberra usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Canberra gets 95 mm (3.7 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 October and AprilCanberra 15°C (60°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Canberra
| Canberra | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (67°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 12°C (53°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (60°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.