A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dublin vs. Kingston for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dublin or Kingston?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dublin or Kingston, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Dublin or Kingston?

Dublin

Dublin is the vibrant and fun capital city of Ireland and home to over a third of the country's population. There are almost 2 million people in the metropolitan area. It's also the most common entry point into the country for visitors. Once you arrive, its a good idea to head over to the main tourist office in St. Andrew's Church off Grafton Street. They can give you maps and information to make sure your trip is efficient and fun. Many people enjoy seeing what remains of the Georgian architecture throughout the city. Much of the city is also modernist in style with many blocks made up of offices.

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 Ireland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland.


Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Dublin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dublin is €179, while the average daily cost in Kingston is €111. 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 Dublin and Kingston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dublin €68
    Kingston €56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dublin €136
    Kingston €112
Compare Hotels in Dublin and Kingston

Looking for a hotel in Dublin 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.

Hotels in Dublin


Hotels in Kingston


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: Dublin Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dublin €19
    Kingston €26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dublin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Dublin:


  • Rental Car for a Day
    €15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dublin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dublin:

  • 1 to 8 People Private Transfer from Dublin Airport to City Centre: $86
  • Arrival Transfer Dublin Airport to Dublin City by Van or Car: $131
  • Arrival Transfer: Dublin Airport DUB to Dublin in Business Car: $107
  • Chauffeur Luxury Driver Private Transfer: $149
  • Child Friendly | Dublin Airport Transfer: $184
  • Departure Transfer: Dublin to Dublin Airport DUB in Luxury Van: $116
  • Driven by Excellence , Defined by Prestige Wheels Transfers: $93
  • Dublin Airport & City Transfers: $286
  • Dublin Airport Or Dublin City To Tankardstown House Private Chauffeur Transfer: $219
  • Dublin Airport Or Dublin City To Wicklow Private Luxury Car Transfer: $300
  • Dublin Airport Temple Bar Dublin City Private Car MPV Transfer: $183
  • Dublin Airport To Arklow County Wicklow Private Car Transfer: $286

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
  • Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfer to Ocho Rios Airbnb Home, Resorts: $133
  • Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport To Ocho Rios Hotels: $45
  • Airport Transfer from NMIA to Hotels in Kingston: $69
  • From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Negril: $79
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
  • Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
  • Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (4 - 9 Persons): $159
  • Jamaica Airport Transfers and Tours: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Dublin or Kingston?

Prices for flights to both Kingston and Dublin 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 day
    Dublin €85
    Kingston €40
Typical Food Prices in Dublin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dublin:


  • Lunch Lynam's Pub
    €3.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dublin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dublin.

  • Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $32
  • Belvedere Irish Night Show, Dance and Traditional 3-Course Dinner: $67
  • NO DIET CLUB - Best Food Tour in Dublin !: $71
  • Celtic Nights with Irish Dinner, Music & Dance Show: $82
  • Irish Dinner & Dance Show at Johnnie Fox’s: $87
  • Delicious Walking Food Tour: $93
  • Skip the Line: Irish Night Show Including 4-Course Dinner Ticket: $97
  • Dublin Historical Centre Food Tour with 7 Food Tastings & Drinks: $102
  • Dublin Food Tour: Local Tastings & Irish Food Stories: $103
  • Delicious Dublin Coolest Neighborhood Food Tour: $109
  • Irish Craic & Cuisine: Cooking Class & Dinner in Central Dublin: $111
  • Howth Coastal Craft Beer and Seafood Tour: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dublin €25
    Kingston €11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dublin

Here are a few typical costs in Dublin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Wild Wicklow Tour
    €26
  • Guinness Brewery for Two
    €27
  • St Pauls Cathedral
    €4.50
  • Dublin Writer's Museum
    €6.30

Tours and Activities in Dublin

Here are a few actual costs in Dublin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Discover Dublin A Private Tour: $1.12
  • Self-Guided Tours In Dublin With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.42
  • Dublin Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.57
  • Historic Landmarks Walking Tour: $4.65
  • Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dublin with Audio Guide: $5.71
  • Dublin Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
  • Dublin Old Town: Famous Pubs Exploration Game and Tour: $6.16
  • Dublin Walking Tour 3h45 and 20 audio reviews: $6.74
  • Interactive Guided Tour of Printing History: $6.86
  • Ardgillan Castle Entry Ticket: $6.98
  • Temple Bar Walking Tour Myths, Music and the Making of Dublin: $7.54
  • Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) Top Rated Self-Guided Coastal Audio Tour: $9.71

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
  • Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio Admission Ticket: $30
  • Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
  • Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
  • Rhythmic Walking Music Tour: $40
  • Guided Bar Hopping Tour with VIP Speakeasy Entry: $40
  • Walk/Drive Tour of Downtown Kingston/Tivoli Gardens/Trench Town.: $48
  • Judgement Yard Tour: $50
  • Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion Studio Tour: $50
  • Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
  • Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
  • Cultural Walking Tour of Kingston: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dublin €17
    Kingston €9.65

Sample the Local Flavors in Dublin

Also in Dublin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Awesome Bar Crawl in Dublin Ireland: $15
  • Generation Pub Crawl: $16
  • The Black Experience Pub Tour: $23
  • Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $23
  • Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery Experience: $26
  • City Pub Crawl Experience: $29
  • Drinks on Foot: Dublin Pub Tour: $31
  • Roe & Co Distillery Experiences: $32
  • Dublin Jameson Distillery Tour and Tasting 45 mins: $35
  • Dublin Jameson Distillery Guided tour and Tasting in French: $35
  • Jameson Whiskey Distillery Tour with Tastings: $36
  • Pub Crawl Walking Tour Through the Heart of Irelands Capital: $47

Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:

  • Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dublin and Kingston, we can see that Dublin is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dublin 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 Dublin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dublin 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 Dublin Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dublin or Kingston?

Dublin has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Dublin 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 Dublin or Kingston?

Dublin 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 Dublin or Kingston in the Summer?

Both Kingston and Dublin are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Dublin because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Dublin is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dublin in July average around 16°C (60°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Kingston. Dublin usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during summer. Dublin gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dublin usually receives more rain than Kingston. Dublin gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dublin 16°C (60°F) 
    Kingston 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Dublin or Kingston in the Autumn?

Both Kingston and Dublin during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Dublin this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.

In October, Dublin is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Dublin average around 11°C (52°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Dublin often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Dublin gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.

Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dublin usually gets less rain in October than Kingston. Dublin gets 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dublin 11°C (52°F) 
    Kingston 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Dublin or Kingston in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dublin and Kingston. Many travelers come to Dublin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Dublin is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Dublin averages around 6°C (42°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Dublin usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Dublin gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dublin usually receives more rain than Kingston. Dublin gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dublin 6°C (42°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Dublin or Kingston in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Dublin as well as Kingston. Many visitors come to Dublin in the spring for the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.

In the spring, Dublin is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dublin in April average around 8°C (47°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the spring, Dublin often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Dublin gets 157 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.

Dublin usually gets more rain in April than Kingston. Dublin gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dublin 8°C (47°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Kingston and Dublin

Dublin Kingston
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 6°C (42°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Feb 6°C (42°F) 50 mm (2 in) 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Apr 8°C (47°F) 51 mm (2 in) 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Jun 14°C (57°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 16°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 15°C (60°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 14°C (56°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Oct 11°C (52°F) 70 mm (2.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Nov 8°C (46°F) 65 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 6°C (44°F) 76 mm (3 in) 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)