Which place is cheaper, Raleigh or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Raleigh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Raleigh, 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 Raleigh?
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.
Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of about 450,000 and is home to many colleges and university including North Carolina State University, Shaw University, Saint Augustine's College, Meredith College and Peace University. The city has a wide range of museums, restaurants, theaters, and parks. There's also an extensive greenway system that is great for biking or running.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Raleigh $189
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Raleigh 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 Raleigh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Raleigh $104
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Raleigh $208
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Raleigh
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Raleigh? 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 Raleigh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Raleigh $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Raleigh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Raleigh:
- Durham to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Raleigh to Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Durham - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Raleigh - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
- Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) to Raleigh Arrival Private Transfer: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Raleigh?
Prices for flights to both Raleigh 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 $27Raleigh $57
Typical Food Prices in Raleigh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Raleigh:
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The Pit Authentic BBQ (for 3)$84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Raleigh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Raleigh.
- Private Cooking Class in Durham with an Expert Home Cook: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Raleigh $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: $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 Raleigh
Here are a few actual costs in Raleigh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Durham by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience Chapel Hill, NC: $15
- Raleigh Historian-Guided Downtown Walking Tour: $16
- Guided Walking Historian Tour in Downtown Durham: $16
- Raleigh Downtown: Historic Walking Tours: $16
- Raleigh Ghost and Urban Legend Tour: $16
- Raleigh African American History Tour: $16
- True Crime History Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Walking Tour: $26
- Raleigh Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Tour: $33
- Raleigh Puzzling Adventure: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Raleigh $27
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 Raleigh, we can see that Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Raleigh 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 Raleigh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Raleigh?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Raleigh. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Raleigh, 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 Raleigh?
Raleigh 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 Raleigh in the Summer?
Both Raleigh and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Raleigh for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Raleigh in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Raleigh fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Raleigh. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Raleigh during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Raleigh receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Raleigh. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Raleigh receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Raleigh 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Raleigh in the Autumn?
Both Raleigh and Kingston during the autumn 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 autumn months attract visitors to Raleigh because of the city's sights and attractions.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Raleigh. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Raleigh averages at about 61°F (16°C).
In Raleigh, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Raleigh. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Raleigh receives 211 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Raleigh. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Raleigh receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Raleigh 61°F (16°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Raleigh in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Raleigh. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, the museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Raleigh this time of year.
It's quite cold in Raleigh in the winter. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Raleigh. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Raleigh fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Raleigh during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Raleigh receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Raleigh. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Raleigh receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Raleigh 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Raleigh in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Raleigh. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Raleigh for the activities around the city.
Kingston is much warmer than Raleigh in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Raleigh fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the spring, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Raleigh. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Raleigh receives 251 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Raleigh. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Raleigh receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Raleigh 60°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Raleigh and Kingston
| Kingston | Raleigh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 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.