Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or La Serena, 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Kingston and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Private Transfer from Kingston Hotels to Montego Bay Cruise Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $118
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $27La Serena $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages: $174
- 4x4 Jeep Safari & Blue Hole Adventure from Ocho Rios: $158
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Runaway Bay: $142
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11La Serena $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 La Serena, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and La Serena 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 La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 La Serena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or La Serena?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and La Serena, 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 La Serena?
La Serena 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 La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kingston as well as La Serena. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Kingston is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the summer, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Serenain January. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets more rain in July than La Serenain January. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKingston 29°C (83°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kingston or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than La Serenain April. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKingston 28°C (82°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Kingston or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Kingston during the winter 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 La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than La Serenain July. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets more rain in January than La Serenain July. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKingston 26°C (79°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Kingston or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives more rain than La Serenain October. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKingston 26°C (80°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Kingston
| Kingston | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.