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

Should you visit Kingston or Roatan?

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

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

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.

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Kingston?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $110, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $38. 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 Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $65
    Roatan $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $130
    Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Roatan? 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 Roatan


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 Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $30
    Roatan $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $21
  • 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
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $72
  • Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Airport to Montego Bay: $90
  • Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
  • Transfers from Kingston to any location: $100
  • Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (4 - 9 Persons): $117

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $4.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • AJ's Sloth & Monkeys Family Excursion, City Tour & Private Transfer: $57
  • Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
  • Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
  • Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $110
  • Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
  • Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Honduras -Round-Trip Transfer: $77
  • Honduras to Honduras Airport (RTB)-Departure Private Transfer: $39
  • Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
  • King Kong Extreme Zipline, Hiking, Beach Break plus Transfer Included: $130
  • Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
  • North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan 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
    Roatan $9.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.

  • Tiki Boat Sunset Cruise in Roatan with Snorkeling and Dinner : $100
  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $13
    Roatan $27

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: $25
  • 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 Roatan

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

  • Organized trips and adventures: $26
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
  • Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
  • Roatan Island Westside Tour: $44
  • Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan East West Private Half-Day Island Tour : $45
  • Private Tour: Chocolate Factory Rum cake Factory, Sightseeing and Beach Tour: $45
  • Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Sightseen Tour and Beach: $45
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan City Bus Tour and Beach: $47
  • 4-to-5 Hour Cruise Ship Tour, Monkeys/Sloths & West Bay Resort: $48
  • Monkeys & sloth hangout,Chocolate Factory,Rum Factory, island tour/Beach : $49
  • Monkeys and Sloth Hang Out with Island Tour in Roatan: $49

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Roatan $7.09

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:

  • Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Roatan, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Roatan?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Roatan, 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.