Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Punta Arenas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $27Punta Arenas $21
Typical Food Prices in Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Punta Arenas $6.44
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
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- 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: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Punta Arenas $4.86
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 Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Punta Arenas, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Punta Arenas is in South 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Punta Arenas?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Kingston during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Kingston is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in January.
In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin January. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Punta Arenasin January. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKingston 29°C (83°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in April.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin April. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKingston 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Punta Arenas. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin July. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin July. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKingston 26°C (79°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Kingston is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives around the same amount of rain as Punta Arenasin October. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKingston 26°C (80°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Kingston
| Kingston | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.