Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kingston or San Pedro La Laguna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or San Pedro La Laguna, 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 Pedro La Laguna?
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 Pedro La Laguna
Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109San Pedro La Laguna $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $36. 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 Pedro La Laguna in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64San Pedro La Laguna $8.23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128San Pedro La Laguna $16
Compare Hotels in Kingston and San Pedro La Laguna
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or San Pedro La Laguna? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30San Pedro La Laguna $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $117
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast : $240
- Private Transfer From Norman Manley Airport to Kingston one way: $48
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Norman Manley Airport to Montego Bay: $284
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $228
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston : $253
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or San Pedro La Laguna?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna 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 dayKingston $27San Pedro La Laguna $11
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lemonade$2.06
-
Cake$1.29
-
Ice cream$0.39
-
Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13San Pedro La Laguna $21
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages: $174
- 4x4 Jeep Safari & Blue Hole Adventure from Ocho Rios: $158
- Blue Lagoon and Canoeing Ride Experience Portland Jamaica : $210
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Hike & Bike Tour from Runaway Bay: $178
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Bob Marley Museum Express Tour from Port Royal Cruise Port: $141
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
-
Kayaking (for 2)$1.93
-
Coffee Tour (for 2)$6.95
Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Tour a NGO non profit Vocational Training Center Amigos de Santa Cruz and explore the Mayan village: $33
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
- Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
- Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
- Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
- Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Lake Atitlan Lower Mayan Trail Hiking Tour from Panajachel: $51
- Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
- Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $52
- sunset tour : $55
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11San Pedro La Laguna $5.58
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 Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna.
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 Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or San Pedro La Laguna?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.
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.