Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Cape Town?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cape Town or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cape Town 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: Cape Town or Kingston?
Cape Town
Picture your travel bucket list. Is Cape Town on it? Yes, most people dream of visiting the "Mother City" of South Africa. As one of the most iconic places in the world, Cape Town is a world-class cosmopolitan city full of bustling nightlife, historical backdrops and a large gay community.
Cape Town is the most southern city in Africa with seasons turned upside down. In the southern hemisphere they experience the summer from December to February. During these months days can be hot and dry so be sure to gather in the shade and wear plenty of sunscreen. The winter from June to August is full of rainy days and cold nights.
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 Camping Tours in South Africa, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCape Town $98Kingston $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Town is $98, 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 Cape Town and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCape Town $39Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCape Town $78Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Cape Town and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Cape Town 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: Cape Town Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cape Town $17Kingston $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cape Town
Also for Cape Town, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transport Shuttle Transfer to Camps Bay Cape Town: $18
- Airport transfers: $22
- 1 Day Durbanville Valley Wine Tasting Tour with Private Transfers: $178
- 1 Day Explore Cape Town Like a Local with Private Guided Transfer: $149
- 1 Day Helderberg Valley Winelands Tour with Private Transfers: $232
- 1 Day Hemel en Aarde Whale Coast Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $205
- 1 Day Tastes of Stellenbosch Wine Tour with Private Transfers: $220
- 1 Day West Coast Wonders Tour with Private Transfers: $177
- 1 Day Wine Lover Wander Connoisseur Tour with Private Transfers: $180
- 1-3 Passenger Private Arrival & Departure Cape Town - Airport Transfers: $54
- 1.Cape Town Airport Transfer (&Private tour trips during yo Stay): $17
- AIRPORT Transfer to and from Cape Town City: $27
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 Cape Town or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Cape Town 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 dayCape Town $42Kingston $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner At Mandela's - Cultural Township Dinner Experience: $28
- Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap: $41
- 3-Hour Malay Cooking Class & Lunch in Bo-Kaap: $43
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $55
- Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $56
- Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class: $59
- African Dinner, Drumming Experience with Transfer: $61
- African Dinner Experience from Cape Town: $61
- Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $62
- Cruise and Dine Dinner / Sunset Champagne Cruise and 3-Course Dinner: $71
- Cape Town Food tour (Includes all food) 4hrs: $76
- Private Cooking Class and Meal in Local Wynberg Cape Town Home: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cape Town $23Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Cape Town
For Cape Town, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $2.99
- District Six Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $3.24
- Skip the Line: District Six Museum Admission Ticket: $3.60
- Kirstenbosch: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.99
- Cape Town 30-minute V&A Harbour Cruise: $4.15
- Hop-On Hop-Off Cape Town Canal Cruise: $4.15
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Down): $4.35
- Cape Point Flying Dutchman Funicular Ticket (One way Up): $4.35
- Meandering through Mouille Point: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- V&A Waterfront: Seal & Harbour Cruise: $5.00
- Sea Point Promenade: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Muizenberg to Kalk Bay: Amble along the amazing False Bay Coast on an audio tour: $5.20
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 dayCape Town $21Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cape Town
Also in Cape Town, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Distillery Tour, rum and gin tasting: $7.13
- Experience South African Craft Rum tasting and distillery tour in Cape Town: $9.60
- African drum show & wine tasting at Silvermist: $24
- Drumstruck at Silvermist. Live African Drum Show & Wine tasting: $25
- Sip 15 Wines on a 3-Region Wine Tour with Cheese: $38
- Wine Tour: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch incl 3 wineries: $38
- Three Region Wine Tour: $44
- Cape Winelands and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour: $47
- half day wine tour & Safaris[Morning /Afternoon]: $49
- Stellenbosch: Half-Day Wine Tour: $51
- Fullday Wine Tour: $51
- Stellenbosch Wine Tour half day from Cape Town: $54
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 comparing the travel costs between Cape Town and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Cape Town is in Africa and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cape Town Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cape Town or Kingston?
Cape Town has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Cape Town 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 Cape Town or Kingston?
Cape Town 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 Cape Town or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Cape Town during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Cape Town is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cape Town in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cape Town. In the summer, Cape Town often gets more sunshine than Kingstonin July. Cape Town gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets less rain in January than Kingstonin July. Cape Town gets 14 mm (0.6 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 JulyCape Town 21°C (70°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Town and Kingston. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Cape Town is generally much colder than Kingstonin October. Daily temperatures in Cape Town average around 18°C (64°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Cape Town, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cape Town usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during autumn. Cape Town gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Cape Town usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Cape Town gets 41 mm (1.6 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 OctoberCape Town 18°C (64°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cape Town as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Cape Town is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Cape Town averages around 13°C (55°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the winter, Cape Town often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin January. Cape Town gets 193 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Cape Town usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Cape Town gets 83 mm (3.3 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 JanuaryCape Town 13°C (55°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Cape Town or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Cape Town are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Cape Town is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cape Town in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cape Town. Cape Town usually receives more sunshine than Kingston during spring. Cape Town gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Cape Town usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Cape Town gets 33 mm (1.3 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 AprilCape Town 16°C (61°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Cape Town
| Cape Town | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (56°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (65°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 17 mm (0.7 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.