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

Should you visit Kingston or Basse-Terre?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Basse-Terre, 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 Basse-Terre?

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.

Basse-Terre

In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.

Which place is cheaper, Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre is $164. 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 Basse-Terre in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $64
    Basse-Terre $97
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $128
    Basse-Terre $194
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Basse-Terre

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Basse-Terre? 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 Basse-Terre


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 Basse-Terre Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $30
    Basse-Terre $8.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
  • MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
  • Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
  • Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
  • Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
  • Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
  • Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
  • Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Hotels to Montego Bay Cruise Port: $118
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $118
  • 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
  • Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Basse-Terre?

Prices for flights to both Basse-Terre 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
    Basse-Terre $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $13
    Basse-Terre $50

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
  • Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
  • Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
  • Ocho Rios Shore Excursion: Bus Tour of Ocho Rios, Fern Gully and Turtle Beach: $62
  • Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
  • Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
  • Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
  • Kingston Half Day Community and Art Tour: $70
  • Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
  • Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
  • Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
  • Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81

Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:

  • Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $214

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Basse-Terre $14

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 Basse-Terre, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Basse-Terre?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Basse-Terre, 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 Basse-Terre?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Kingston or Basse-Terre in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Basse-Terre. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Basse-Terre during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as Basse-Terre. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kingston 29°C (83°F) 
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Kingston or Basse-Terre in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Basse-Terre. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets less rain in October than Basse-Terre. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Basse-Terre. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 217 hours of full sun.

In October, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Basse-Terre. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kingston 28°C (82°F) 
    Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Kingston or Basse-Terre in the Winter?

Both Basse-Terre and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Basse-Terre. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Basse-Terre during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Basse-Terre receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.

Kingston is around the same temperature as Basse-Terre in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Basse-Terre fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kingston 26°C (79°F) 
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Kingston or Basse-Terre in the Spring?

Both Basse-Terre and Kingston during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round.

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Basse-Terre. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Basse-Terre receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Basse-Terre. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basse-Terre receives 240 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Kingston is around the same temperature as Basse-Terre. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Basse-Terre averages at about 26°C (78°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kingston 26°C (80°F) 
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F)

Typical Weather for Basse-Terre and Kingston

Kingston Basse-Terre
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)