Which place is cheaper, Monterey or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Monterey?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Monterey, 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 Monterey?
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.
Monterey
When it comes to California, Monterey may not be mentioned half as much as you hear about Los Angeles or San Francisco, but it is a beautiful city to visit, with a diverse expanse of exciting and relaxing things to do, whether you're looking for adventure, a quiet getaway, or romance.
Located on California's central coast, the city of Monterey was the first State Capital of California. It was also home to many artists, athletes, and musicians, such as John Steinbeck, Clint Eastwood, and Ron Johnson.
Monterey has mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Cold season runs from December to April and warm season, from July until October. The peak travel seasons are during summer, from July to September. If you want to avoid crowds, the months of April and October are ideal times to visit for fewer crowds and comfortable weather.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Monterey $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Monterey is $170. 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 Monterey in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Monterey $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Monterey $180
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Monterey
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Monterey? 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 Monterey Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Monterey $32
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 Monterey?
Prices for flights to both Monterey 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 $27Monterey $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Monterey
For Monterey, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Monterey $27
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
- Blue Hole and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $99
- 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: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Tours and Activities in Monterey
For Monterey, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- San Fran Pacific Coast Self-Driving Tour App: $7.30
- Self-Guided John Steinbeck Walking Tour with Audio: $7.99
- Monterey Peninsula Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- 17-Mile Drive Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Scenic 17-Mile Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- California: Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle: $40
- Monterey Fisherman's Wharf & Presidio Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $49
- Monterey Cannery Row: Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $49
- Monterey Bay Dolphin and Whale Watching Boat Tour: $60
- Catamaran Sailing Cruise: $65
- Cannery Row Kayak Tour: $65
- Whale Watching Cruise: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Monterey $21
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Monterey
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Monterey:
- Carmel Valley Wine Tasting Tour: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Monterey, we can see that Monterey 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 Monterey 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 Monterey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Monterey 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 Monterey Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Monterey?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Monterey. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Monterey, 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 Monterey?
Monterey 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 Monterey in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Monterey. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Monterey in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
Kingston is much warmer than Monterey in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Monterey fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Kingston usually gets more rain in July than Monterey. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Monterey 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Monterey in the Autumn?
Both Monterey and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Monterey for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Monterey. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Monterey averages at about 62°F (17°C).
It's quite rainy in Kingston. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Monterey. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Monterey 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Monterey in the Winter?
Both Monterey 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. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Monterey because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Monterey. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Monterey fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Monterey. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Monterey 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Monterey in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Monterey. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to Monterey this time of year.
Kingston is much warmer than Monterey in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Monterey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).
In April, Kingston usually receives around the same amount of rain as Monterey. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Monterey 56°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Monterey and Kingston
| Kingston | Monterey | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.1 inches (55 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.6 inches (14 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2 inches (51 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.