Which place is cheaper, Durham or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Durham?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Durham, 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 Durham?
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.
Durham
Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.
Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.
Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Durham $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Durham is $162. 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 Durham in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Durham $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Durham $184
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Durham
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Durham? 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 Durham Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Durham $33
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 Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $71
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Durham?
Prices for flights to both Durham 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 $27Durham $44
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Durham $26
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
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- 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
- 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 Durham
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:
- True Crime Tour: $13
- Downtown Durham Historian-Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Durham African American History Tour: $16
- Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Durham $34
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 Durham, we can see that Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham 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 Durham Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Durham?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Durham, 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 Durham?
Durham 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 Durham in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Durham. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Durham in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham 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 Durham during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.
Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Durham. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Durham 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Durham in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Durham. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Durham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Durham averages at about 61°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Durham. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Durham. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Durham 61°F (16°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Durham in the Winter?
Both Durham and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Durham during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Durham. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Durham 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Durham in the Spring?
Both Durham 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.
Kingston is much warmer than Durham in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).
In Durham, 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 Durham. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Durham. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Durham 60°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Durham and Kingston
| Kingston | Durham | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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.