Which place is cheaper, Nassau or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Nassau?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Nassau, 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 Nassau?
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.
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Nassau $189
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Nassau is $189. 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 Nassau in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Nassau $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Nassau $218
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Nassau
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Nassau? 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 Nassau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Nassau $32
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
- Private Transfer From Norman Manley Airport to Kingston one way: $48
- 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 Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $117
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi$8.02
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Taxi to Cable Beach$25
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Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
- Baha Mar ( Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood Hotels) Private Airport Transfers : $160
- Chippies Airport/Hotel Transfers Transportation: $55
- Group transfer: $68
- Low Cost Airport Transfers: $185
- Luxury MKT Town Car Private Roundtrip Transfer : $140
- Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Round-Trip Nassau Transfer: $252
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau cruise port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Nassau Airport (NAS): Private Transfer to Nassau cruise port: $164
- Nassau Cruise Port to Nassau hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Nassau?
Prices for flights to both Nassau 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 $27Nassau $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Nassau Food Tour and Beach Break: $65
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
- Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $116
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $125
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Island Food Tour: $140
- Gourmet dinner & sunset cruise on luxury catamaran: $375
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Nassau $37
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
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- 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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Downtown, Bahamas: $5.00
- Archie's Weekend Tour with Seafood Snack and Spanish Friendly: $7.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Jewel of the Bahamas: $15
- Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour: $20
- Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours: $28
- Roundtrip Shuttle from Cruise Terminal at Prince George Wharf: $29
- Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour: $35
- Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15): $43
- Bahamas Ghost Walking Tour: $44
- Banana Boat Adventure: $50
- Dis We Culture Tour (At least 6 passengers): $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Nassau $19
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
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Cocktail$6.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
- Nassau Rum Distillery Tour: $25
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Nassau, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau 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 Nassau Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Nassau?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nassau. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Nassau, 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 Nassau?
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 Nassau in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Nassau. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Nassau receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Nassau. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau 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 Nassau during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Nassau receives 273 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as Nassau. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Nassau averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Nassau 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Nassau in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Nassau. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Nassau. Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets less rain in October than Nassau. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nassau. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nassau receives 223 hours of full sun.
In October, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Nassau. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Nassau fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Nassau 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Nassau in the Winter?
Both Nassau and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Nassau. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Nassau. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Nassau during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Nassau receives 220 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kingston is a little warmer than Nassau in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Nassau fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Nassau 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Nassau in the Spring?
Both Nassau 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Nassau. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Nassau receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Nassau. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nassau receives 276 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Kingston is a little warmer than Nassau. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Nassau averages at about 23°C (74°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Nassau 23°C (74°F)
Typical Weather for Nassau and Kingston
| Kingston | Nassau | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.