Which place is cheaper, Cancun 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 Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Cancun, 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 Cancun?
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.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Cancun $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $161. 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 Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Cancun $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Cancun $186
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Cancun? 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 Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Cancun $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- VIP Private Airport Transfer: Norman Manley to Montego Bay Hotels: $123
- Transfer from Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston Hotels: $150
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to or from Hotels in Falmouth Area: $173
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN): $54
- 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: $48
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- Private Transfer to and from Kingston International Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $261
- Private Transfer from Kingston hotel to Falmouth Cruise Port: $196
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $196
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.60
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Private Transfer Puerto Aventuras: $120
- Airport Transfer (Can-cun, Playa del Carmen & Tulum): $112
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfer to Tulum: $160
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $227
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Morelos - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $194
- Akumal One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $139
- Amazing ATV (single) Cenote and Ziplines with Transfer from Playa del Carmen: $90
- Arrival Private Transfer Cancun Airport CUN to Cancun by Minivan or Minibus: $29
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cancun Airport CUN to Tulum by Minivan or Minibus: $155
- Best SpeedBoat and Snorkeling tour with Transfer from Cancun: $29
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Private Arrival Transfer: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun 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 $45Cancun $47
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Cancun Food Tour: Market 23, Local Flavors & Downtown Culture: $69
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Columbus Romantic Dinner in Cancún: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $81
- Couples Special Pirate Show & Dinner! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Cancun $34
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure of Ocho Rios: $130
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Black River Safari Tour from Kingston: $272
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $180
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley Museum, Devon House and Downtown Kingston Tour: $125
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.57
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$97
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cancun's Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Tour: $8.15
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $12
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Shared Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $15
- Cancun Beach Taco Tour Culinary Journey with Tequila Tasting: $15
- Tour in a Catamaran to Isla Mujeres with all included for the best price!: $16
- Isla Mujeres Full Day Catamaran Adventure from Cancun: $16
- Chichen Itza Full Day Tour With Cenote Swim: $16
- Full-Day Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres from Cancun with Lunch: $17
- Tour to Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $17
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Cancun $13
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 Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Cancun, we can see that Cancun 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 Cancun 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun 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 Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Cancun?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 73% larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Cancun, 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.