Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
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.
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Santa Cruz $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Santa Cruz? 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 Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Santa Cruz $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Kingston Hotels to Montego Bay Cruise Port: $118
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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 $27Santa Cruz $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Santa Cruz $18
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: $26
- 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 Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Santa Cruz $8.57
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When comparing the travel costs between Kingston and Santa Cruz, we can see that Santa Cruz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Santa Cruz?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Kingston is a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 67°F (19°C).
In July, Kingston usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Santa Cruz. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
Both Santa Cruz and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
Kingston is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Santa Cruz. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
Both Santa Cruz and Kingston during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches.
In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 58°F (14°C).
Kingston usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Santa Cruz. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Kingston
| Kingston | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 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.