Which place is cheaper, Leon or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Leon, 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 Leon?
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.
Leon
Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.
With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Leon $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Leon is $59. 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 Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Leon? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Leon $1.51
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon 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 $27Leon $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Leon $5.81
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: $25
- 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 Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Leon $3.53
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 Leon, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Leon is in Central 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 Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon 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 Leon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Leon?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Leon, 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 Leon?
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 Leon in the Summer?
Both Leon 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 Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Leon. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Leon during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Leon averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Leon in the Autumn?
Both Leon 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 Leon year-round.
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually gets less rain in October than Leon. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Leon. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun.
In October, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Leon in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Leon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Kingston usually receives more rain than Leon. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon 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 Leon during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Leon in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Leon fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Leon in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Leon. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
Kingston usually gets more rain in April than Leon. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. 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 Leon. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Kingston is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Leon averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and Kingston
| Kingston | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.