Which place is cheaper, Roanoke 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 Roanoke?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Roanoke, 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 Roanoke?
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.
Roanoke
Roanoke is a charming city located in the western region of the U.S. state of Virginia. Sometimes called the "Star City of the South" or the "Magic City," Roanoke lies in the scenic Roanoke Valley with Mill Mountain as a local icon, topped with a lighted 100-foot star. The city itself is home to many museums and opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesRoanoke Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Roanoke $199
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Roanoke is $199. 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 Roanoke in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Roanoke $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Roanoke $192
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Roanoke
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Roanoke? 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 Roanoke Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Roanoke $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Montego Bay: 5-Day Jamaica Tour with Meals and Transfers: $2,200
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $261
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $261
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston: $259
- Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande: $200
- Kingston Airport to & From Sandals Ocho Rios Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Hilton Rose Hall: $187
- Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Roanoke?
Prices for flights to both Roanoke 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 $45Roanoke $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Roanoke $35
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Outback Adventure from Kingston: $288
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $180
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston Hotels: $120
Tours and Activities in Roanoke
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Roanoke.
- Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: $20
- Downtown Roanoke Food, History & Cultural Tour: $82
- E-Bike Mural Tour of Roanoke: $88
- 3-Hour E-Bike Sightseeing and Breweries Tour in Roanoke: $109
- Mountain Bike Tour from The Roanoke Star: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Roanoke $30
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 Roanoke
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Roanoke:
- Bradys Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience: $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Roanoke, we can see that Roanoke 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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Roanoke 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 Roanoke Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Roanoke?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Roanoke. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Roanoke, 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 Roanoke?
Roanoke 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 Roanoke in the Summer?
Both Roanoke 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. Also, most visitors come to Roanoke for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Roanoke in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Roanoke fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
In Roanoke, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Roanoke. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Roanoke receives 273 hours of full sun.
Roanoke gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Roanoke. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Roanoke receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Roanoke 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Roanoke in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Roanoke. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Roanoke because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Roanoke. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Roanoke averages at about 60°F (16°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Roanoke this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Roanoke during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Roanoke receives 210 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 Roanoke. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Roanoke receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Roanoke 60°F (16°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Roanoke in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Roanoke. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Roanoke this time of year.
It's quite cold in Roanoke in the winter. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Roanoke. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Roanoke fluctuates around 38°F (3°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Roanoke. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Roanoke receives 165 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Roanoke. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Roanoke receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Roanoke 38°F (3°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Roanoke in the Spring?
Both Roanoke 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 Roanoke in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Roanoke fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).
It's quite sunny in Roanoke. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Roanoke during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Roanoke receives 246 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Roanoke. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Roanoke receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Roanoke 59°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Roanoke and Kingston
| Kingston | Roanoke | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 38°F (3°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 42°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 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.