Which place is cheaper, Cali or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kingston or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Cali, 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 Cali?
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.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Cali $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Cali is $35. 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 Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Cali $6.82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Cali $14
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Cali? 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: Kingston Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Cali $6.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Private Transfers: Kingston Airport ↔ Montego Bay Area: $215
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $43
- Private Transfer to and from Kingston International Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from Kingston hotel to Falmouth Cruise Port: $196
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $261
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Hilton Rose Hall: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast: $240
- Private Kingston Airport KIN Transfer for Ocho Rios Hotels: $128
- Private Arrivals or Departures Transfer: Norman Manley Airport to Kingston: $148
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $91
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by car: $131
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $45
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $174
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport: $19
- Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali 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
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Food Meals for one dayKingston $45Cali $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $67
- Food Tour San Antonio: $75
- Discover Pacific Flavors Cali Cooking Class and Market Tour: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Cali $12
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2Gran VIP Experience Uptown Mondays Dancehall and Media Lounge: $65
- ATV Adventure of Ocho Rios: $124
- ATV Outback Adventure from Kingston: $288
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Black River Safari Tour from Kingston: $272
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $155
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $14
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $15
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $33
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia: $39
- Walking tour of the historic center: $41
- Private Tour in Cali with Salsa Class, Museums and Local Food: $43
- Historical Walking Cali City Tour 3H: $46
- Chef’s Garden Experience at Andoke Butterfly Center: $50
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (4 hours): $64
- A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
- Walking Tour through Cali: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Cali $9.61
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $28
- Friday Night Street Salsa and Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $30
- Friday Salsa Bar Crawl in Cali - Culture Nightlife Experience: $32
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Cali, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Cali is in South 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 Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Cali, 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.
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.