Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or El Chalten, 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 El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Kingston and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or El Chalten? 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 El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30El Chalten $2.37
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 El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $27El Chalten $3.66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13El Chalten $2.66
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 El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11El Chalten $1.22
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 El Chalten, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kingston or El Chalten?
El Chalten 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 El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin January. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKingston 29°C (83°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as El Chalten. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Kingston is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin April. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKingston 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Kingston or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Kingston is much warmer than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in July.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin July. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKingston 26°C (79°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Kingston or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten 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.
In the spring, Kingston is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F)in October.
In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKingston 26°C (80°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Kingston
| Kingston | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.