Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kingston or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Ponce, 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Ponce? 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 $29Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels: $25
- Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $37
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Airport /Hotel Transfer Norman Manley airport and Montego bay: $40
- Kingston to Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $43
- Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport To Ocho Rios Hotels: $45
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Airport Transfer of Norman Manley and Kingston Hotels: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $45Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Ponce $56
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
- Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio Admission Ticket: $30
- Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Rhythmic Walking Music Tour: $40
- Guided Bar Hopping Tour with VIP Speakeasy Entry: $40
- Judgement Yard Tour: $50
- Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion Studio Tour: $50
- Kingston Night Market Experience from Kingston: $55
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- Explore El Yunque and Historic Castle in Old San Juan Tour: $69
- Island Escape Rainforest to Castles Tour: $70
- Arecibo Triple Tour Indian Caves Waterfalls and Nature : $71
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
- Puerto Rico Countryside Tour with Visit to Waterfall: $79
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Ponce?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Ponce, 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Ponce. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Ponce. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Ponce. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. 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 Ponce. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce 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 Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Ponce. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Kingston is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce 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 Ponce year-round.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Ponce. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
In April, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Kingston
| Kingston | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.