A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kingston vs. Hershey for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kingston or Hershey?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Hershey, 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 Hershey?

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.

Hershey

Often called "Chocolatetown, USA" and "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, Pennsylvania is most known for being home to the famous Hershey's chocolates. The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey, and has grown to sell products in over sixty countries worldwide. Before the town was named Hershey, it was called Derry Church and was the hometown of the chocolatier. While there are now manufacturing plants in many locations, Hershey, PA, remains the location that draws the crowds. It is the place where the Hershey Company originated and is home to attractions like Hershey Park, Hershey Gardens, and Hershey's Chocolate World.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Hershey or Kingston?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Hershey is $212. 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 Hershey in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $64
    Hershey $114
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $128
    Hershey $228
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Hershey

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Hershey? 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.

Hotels in Kingston


Hotels in Hershey


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 Hershey Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $30
    Hershey $49

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hershey

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hershey:

  • Private transfer from MDT airport to Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Hershey: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Hershey?

Prices for flights to both Hershey 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kingston $27
    Hershey $61

Typical Food Prices in Hershey

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hershey:


  • Frozen Hot Chocolate
    $4.19
  • Plain and Fancy Farm
    $46
  • Homemade Apple Butter
    $7.98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $13
    Hershey $53

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Hershey

Here are a few typical costs in Hershey for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Hershey Chocolate World (for 3)
    $75

Tours and Activities in Hershey

Here are a few actual costs in Hershey for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Skip the Line: AACA Museum Admission Ticket: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Hershey $27

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 Hershey, we can see that Hershey 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 Hershey 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 Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey 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 Hershey Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Hershey?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Hershey, 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 Hershey?

Hershey 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 Hershey in the Summer?

Both Hershey and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Hershey for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Kingston is a little warmer than Hershey. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Hershey averages at about 77°F (25°C).

It's quite sunny in Hershey. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Hershey during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Hershey. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kingston 29°C (83°F) 
    Hershey 77°F (25°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Hershey in the Autumn?

Both Hershey 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. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Hershey because of the shopping scene.

In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Hershey. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kingston 28°C (82°F) 
    Hershey 56°F (13°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Hershey in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Hershey. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

It's quite cold in Hershey in the winter. Kingston is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Hershey. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kingston 26°C (79°F) 
    Hershey 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Hershey in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Hershey. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Hershey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Hershey averages at about 53°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hershey. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the spring, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun.

Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Hershey. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kingston 26°C (80°F) 
    Hershey 53°F (12°C)

Typical Weather for Hershey and Kingston

Kingston Hershey
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 30°F (-1°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 33°F (0°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 53°F (12°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 63°F (17°C) 4.3 inches (108 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 72°F (22°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 77°F (25°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 75°F (24°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 56°F (13°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 46°F (8°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 35°F (2°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)