Should you visit Kingston or Saint Thomas?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Saint Thomas, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $89, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $175. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Kingston and Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Kingston is about $104 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $210 in Saint Thomas For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Kingston costs travelers about $22 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The price of a meal in Saint Thomas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $43 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $17 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Kingston $22
Saint Thomas $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kingston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kingston.
-
Jamaican Food Tour of Kingston:
$90
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $24 per day to get around in Kingston.
To get around in Saint Thomas, the average visitor spends $29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
-
Private Airport Transfer from Kingston to Montego Bay:
$660
-
Private transfer: Kingston to Kingston Airport (KIN):
$622
-
Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Montego Bay:
$589
-
Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston & St Andrew:
$383
-
Private Transfer From Kingston Airport To Ocho Rios Hotels 1-3 Pax:
$322
-
MBJ Transfer - from Kingston:
$320
-
Falmouth Hotels Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN):
$315
-
Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Norman Manley Airport to or from Montego Bay:
$294
-
Private Round Trip Transfer Norman Manley Airport KIN to Port Antonio by Minivan:
$283
-
Kingston Airport Transfers:
$275
-
Hotel Riu, Jewel Dunn's River, Moon Palace Transfer from Kingston:
$272
-
Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To Sandals South Coast:
$225
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
-
Scooter Rental
$65
-
Taxi Ride
$5.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $10 per person, per day in Kingston. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Saint Thomas, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $48 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
3-days Jamaica Sightseeing Tour of Treasure Beach and Negril departing from Kingston:
$695
-
3-days Sightseeing Tour of Ocho Rios & Montego Bay departing from Kingston:
$695
-
6-Day Private Tour of Jamaica from Kingston:
$2,800
-
Black River Safari Tour from Kingston:
$272
-
Blue Mountain Coffee and Sightseeing Tour:
$315
-
Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston:
$160
-
Bob Marley Museum and Tuff Gong Studio Combo Entrance Ticket:
$50
-
Cultural Walking Tour of Kingston:
$65
-
Dirt Bike Tours:
$256
-
Dunn's River Falls & Jungle River Tubing Adventure Tour from Kingston:
$241
-
Dunns River Falls Scenic Tour:
$300
-
Dunns River Falls Scenic Tour:
$300
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
-
Snorkel St. John Tour from Sapphire & Margaritaville:
$135
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Kingston may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.03 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Saint Thomas, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas than you might in Kingston.
Related Articles for Kingston
Related Articles for Saint Thomas
