Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Cuenca, 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 Cuenca?
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.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Cuenca $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $42. 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 Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Cuenca? 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 Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca 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 $27Cuenca $15
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Cuenca $16
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 Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $25
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Cuenca $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 Cuenca, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Cuenca 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 Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Cuenca?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Cuenca, 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 Cuenca?
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 Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Kingston usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Kingston is generally a little warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Cuenca in the Autumn?
Both Cuenca and Kingston during the autumn 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 Cuenca year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Cuenca. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Kingston is much warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Cuenca. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Kingston usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The weather in Cuenca can be very cold. In the winter, Kingston is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Cuenca in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Cuenca. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Cuenca. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Kingston is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Kingston
| Kingston | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.