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

Should you visit Kingston or Arlington?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Arlington, 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: Kingston or Arlington?

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.

Arlington

Located just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, capital of the United States, Arlington is a city that also has many government sites and monuments that commemorate the nation's past. Two of its most famous features include Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon-the largest office building in the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Arlington or Kingston?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Arlington is $264. 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 Kingston and Arlington in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $64
    Arlington $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $128
    Arlington $262
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Arlington

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Arlington? 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 Kingston


Hotels in Arlington


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: Kingston Hotel Prices and Arlington Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $30
    Arlington $49

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
  • Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
  • 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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arlington

Also for Arlington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ronald Reagan DCA Airport Transfers: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Arlington?

Prices for flights to both Arlington and Kingston 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
    Kingston $27
    Arlington $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $13
    Arlington $11

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
  • 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 from Kingston: $83
  • Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
  • Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
  • Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
  • Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Arlington $17

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 Kingston and Arlington, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Arlington is in North America, 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 Arlington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arlington 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 Kingston Expensive? and Is Arlington Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Arlington?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Arlington. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Arlington, 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 Kingston or Arlington?

Arlington 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 Kingston or Arlington in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Arlington. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arlington this time of year.

Kingston is around the same temperature as Arlington in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Arlington fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arlington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the summer, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Arlington. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arlington receives 278 hours of full sun.

Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Arlington. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kingston 29°C (83°F) 
    Arlington 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Arlington in the Autumn?

Both Arlington and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Arlington for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Arlington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Arlington averages at about 60°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Arlington during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Arlington receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Kingston. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Arlington. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kingston 28°C (82°F) 
    Arlington 60°F (15°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Arlington in the Winter?

Both Arlington and Kingston during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Arlington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Arlington can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Arlington. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Arlington fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).

It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Arlington. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arlington receives 139 hours of full sun.

Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Arlington. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kingston 26°C (79°F) 
    Arlington 35°F (1°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Arlington in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Arlington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.

Kingston is much warmer than Arlington in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Arlington fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arlington this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Arlington during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Arlington receives 228 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Arlington. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kingston 26°C (80°F) 
    Arlington 56°F (14°C)

Typical Weather for Arlington and Kingston

Kingston Arlington
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 35°F (1°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 37°F (3°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 47°F (8°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 56°F (14°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 66°F (19°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 75°F (24°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 79°F (26°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 78°F (26°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 71°F (22°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 60°F (15°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 50°F (10°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 39°F (4°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)