Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or San Juan del Sur, 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 Juan del Sur?
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 Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Kingston and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or San Juan del Sur? 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 Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30San Juan del Sur $18
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur $18
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13San Juan del Sur $15
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 Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11San Juan del Sur $13
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 Juan del Sur, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur.
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 Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or San Juan del Sur?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and San Juan del Sur, 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 Juan del Sur?
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 Juan del Sur in the Summer?
Both San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than San Juan del Sur. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
Both San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur year-round.
San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun.
Kingston is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and San Juan del Sur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Kingston usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Kingston is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as San Juan del Sur. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
Kingston usually gets more rain in April than San Juan del Sur. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. 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 Juan del Sur. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun.
In April, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Kingston
| Kingston | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.