Which place is cheaper, San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?
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.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $251. 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 San Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Kingston and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or San Francisco? 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 San Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29San Francisco $16
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
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston: $260
- Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast: $240
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Private Transfers: Kingston Airport ↔ Montego Bay Area: $215
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $196
- Private Transfer from Kingston hotel to Falmouth Cruise Port: $196
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Hilton Rose Hall: $187
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Business Car: $127
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport SFO to San Francisco in Luxury Car: $181
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $180
- California: Oakland Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $180
- California: SFE Airport Transfer from San Francisco: $140
- California: SFE Airport Transfer to San Francisco: $140
- Departure Private Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport in a SUV: $266
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Business Car: $127
- Departure Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO in Luxury Car: $181
- Departure Transfer San Francisco to SFO Airport by Luxury Suv: $173
- Napa Valley 1-Way Transfer to/from the San Francisco Airport: $400
- Private Airport Transfer From San Francisco Union Square To SFO: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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 $45San Francisco $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- City Cruises Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $75
- Mission District Street Art and Food Tour: $79
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- Little Italy & Chinatown Original Food Tour: $84
- Mission District Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $84
- San Francisco : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $92
- San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: $95
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
- Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 Food Tour - Includes Full Meal, 3 hrs: $115
- Exclusive North Beach Food Tour in San Francisco: $115
- SF's Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour - Includes full meal, 3hr: $115
- City Cruises Signature Dinner Cruise: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12San Francisco $31
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure of Ocho Rios: $130
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Black River Safari Tour from Kingston: $272
- 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, Devon House and Downtown Kingston Tour: $125
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- San Francisco Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.94
- Downtown San Francisco Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- San Francisco Private Car Tour: $5.00
- Coit Tower Hike Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Golden Gate Bridge Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Downtown San Francisco Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- The Ghosts of San Francisco Haunted Audio App Walking Tour: $6.99
- Unfolding the Financial District: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- The Secrets of Golden Gate Park: A San Francisco Chronicle Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11San Francisco $22
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 San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- #1 San Francisco Pub Crawl & Clubbing Experience: $24
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- San Francisco Pub Crawl & Clubbing Experience: $32
- Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- Castro Bar Crawl in San Francisco: $49
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Distillery Gin Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Local Distillery Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour with Optional Tasting: $99
- From Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $110
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $116
- Napa and Sonoma Half-Day Wine Tour with Guide and Tastings: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco 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 San Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or San Francisco?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?
San Francisco 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 San Francisco in the Summer?
Both San Francisco 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, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
Kingston is much warmer than San Francisco in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Kingston usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Kingston or San Francisco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Kingston or San Francisco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as San Francisco. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to San Francisco in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Kingston or San Francisco in the Spring?
Both San Francisco and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
Kingston is much warmer than San Francisco in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Kingston
| Kingston | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 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.