Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Florianopolis or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis or Kingston?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $62Kingston $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $109. 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 Florianopolis and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $26Kingston $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $52Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Kingston $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $40
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
- One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
- Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $84
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
- Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $78
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 Hotels to Montego Bay Cruise Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $118
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $22Kingston $27
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $26Kingston $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.59
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
- Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $23
- Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $30
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $32
- Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $37
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
- Private Tour: The 7 Most Preserved Beaches on the South Island by Floripa Nativa: $39
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $42
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 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 from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.68Kingston $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.59
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 Florianopolis and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Florianopolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis is in South America 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 Florianopolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Florianopolis. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis or Kingston?
Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Florianopolis during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Florianopolis is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Florianopolis in January average around 25°C (76°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin July. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Florianopolis. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 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 JulyFlorianopolis 25°C (76°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and Kingston. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Florianopolis is generally cooler than Kingstonin October. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 22°C (71°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Florianopolis gets 179 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, Florianopolis usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 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 OctoberFlorianopolis 22°C (71°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Florianopolis is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 17°C (62°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, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin January. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Florianopolis usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 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 JanuaryFlorianopolis 17°C (62°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Florianopolis 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, Florianopolis is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Florianopolis in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Florianopolis. In October, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 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 AprilFlorianopolis 20°C (68°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Florianopolis
| Florianopolis | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.