Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or San Ignacio?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or San Ignacio, 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 Ignacio?
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 Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109San Ignacio $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in San Ignacio is $72. 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 Ignacio in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64San Ignacio $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128San Ignacio $38
Compare Hotels in Kingston and San Ignacio
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or San Ignacio? 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 Ignacio Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30San Ignacio $3.11
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 San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or San Ignacio?
Prices for flights to both San Ignacio 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 $27San Ignacio $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13San Ignacio $100
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 San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11San Ignacio $17
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 San Ignacio, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio.
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 Ignacio Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or San Ignacio?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and San Ignacio, 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 Ignacio?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Kingston or San Ignacio in the Summer?
Both San Ignacio and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than San Ignacio during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 226 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)San Ignacio 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Ignacio in the Autumn?
Both San Ignacio 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually gets less rain in October than San Ignacio. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than San Ignacio. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 196 hours of full sun.
Kingston is around the same temperature as San Ignacio in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)San Ignacio 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Ignacio in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and San Ignacio. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than San Ignacio during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 199 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Kingston is around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and San Ignacio averages at about 24°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)San Ignacio 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Ignacio in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as San Ignacio. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than San Ignacio. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. 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 San Ignacio. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 256 hours of full sun.
In April, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)San Ignacio 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for San Ignacio and Kingston
| Kingston | San Ignacio | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
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.