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

Should you visit Kingston or Pocono Mountains?

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

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

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.

Pocono Mountains

The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains is $174. 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 Pocono Mountains in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $64
    Pocono Mountains $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $128
    Pocono Mountains $178
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Pocono Mountains

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Pocono Mountains? 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 Pocono Mountains


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

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
  • 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: $118
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Hotels to Montego Bay Cruise Port: $118
  • 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
  • Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Pocono Mountains?

Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains 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
    Pocono Mountains $53

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $13
    Pocono Mountains $30

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

Tours and Activities in Pocono Mountains

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pocono Mountains are as follows:

  • Private Mount Pocono Observation Air Tour: $64
  • Delaware Water Gap Air Tour: $141

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Pocono Mountains $13

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


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Pocono Mountains?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Pocono Mountains. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Pocono Mountains, 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 Pocono Mountains?

Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Pocono Mountains. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Pocono Mountains for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Kingston is generally a little warmer than Pocono Mountains. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Pocono Mountains fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pocono Mountains this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Pocono Mountains during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Pocono Mountains receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.

Pocono Mountains receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Pocono Mountains. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kingston 29°C (83°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 75°F (24°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Pocono Mountains in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Pocono Mountains. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Pocono Mountains in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Kingston is much warmer than Pocono Mountains in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Pocono Mountains fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Pocono Mountains. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pocono Mountains receives 168 hours of full sun.

Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Pocono Mountains. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kingston 28°C (82°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 55°F (13°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Pocono Mountains in the Winter?

Both Pocono Mountains and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Pocono Mountains for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Pocono Mountains can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Kingston is much warmer than Pocono Mountains. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Pocono Mountains averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Pocono Mountains during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Pocono Mountains receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Pocono Mountains. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kingston 26°C (79°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 28°F (-2°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Pocono Mountains in the Spring?

Both Pocono Mountains 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. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Pocono Mountains because of the natural beauty.

In April, Kingston is generally much warmer than Pocono Mountains. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Pocono Mountains fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

In Pocono Mountains, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Pocono Mountains. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pocono Mountains receives 213 hours of full sun.

Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Pocono Mountains. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kingston 26°C (80°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 51°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for Pocono Mountains and Kingston

Kingston Pocono Mountains
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 28°F (-2°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 31°F (-1°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 41°F (5°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 51°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 62°F (17°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 71°F (22°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 75°F (24°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 73°F (23°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 66°F (19°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 55°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 45°F (7°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 33°F (1°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)