Which place is cheaper, Sarasota or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kingston or Sarasota?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Sarasota, 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 Sarasota?
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.
Sarasota
Located on the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida, Sarasota is a popular city known for its thriving arts scene, selection of restaurants, plenty of shopping, and beautiful beaches. The metropolitan area is a hub of city culture, while the beaches offer escapes of fine white sand and aqua waters.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Sarasota $249
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Sarasota is $249. 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 Sarasota in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Sarasota $108
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Sarasota $216
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Sarasota
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Sarasota? 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 Sarasota Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Sarasota -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sarasota
Also for Sarasota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sarasota to Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $48
- Sarasota–Bradenton Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota Round-Trip Transfer: $96
- Sarasota–Bradenton Intl. Airport (SRQ) to Sarasota - Arrival Private Transfer: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Sarasota?
Prices for flights to both Sarasota 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 $27Sarasota $137
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sarasota
For Sarasota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sarasota Street Food Tour: $85
- Taste of Downtown Food Tour: $105
- Downtown Walking Food Tour in Sarasota: $110
- Sarasota Kayak and Food Tour: $165
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Sarasota $11
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
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Blue Hole and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $99
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Runaway Bay: $142
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Tours and Activities in Sarasota
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sarasota.
- Sarasota Art Crawl Trolley Tour: $14
- Palmetto: Haunted History Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Robinson Preserve Nature Walk Eco Tour: $40
- Mangroves, Manatees, and a Hidden Beach: Kayak Tour: $50
- Adventure and Wildlife Watch Kayak Rentals in Sarasota: $50
- Sharkey's Glass Bottom Fish Feeding LED Night Tour in Sarasota: $55
- 2 Hours Guided Robinson Preserve Mangrove Tour: $55
- Siesta Key Kayak Tour : $57
- Kayak Paddling Experience at The Bay Park: $58
- Sarasota Mangrove Tunnel Guided Kayak Adventure: $59
- Sarasota Guided Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour: $59
- Siesta Key Guided Eco Tour: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Sarasota -
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 Sarasota, we can see that Sarasota 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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota 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 Sarasota Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Sarasota?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Sarasota. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Sarasota, 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 Sarasota?
Sarasota 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 Sarasota in the Summer?
Both Sarasota 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sarasota in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Sarasota. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Sarasota fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
In Sarasota, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sarasota. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sarasota receives 265 hours of full sun.
Sarasota gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Sarasota. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Sarasota receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Sarasota 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Sarasota in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Sarasota. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sarasota for the shopping scene during these months.
Kingston is a little warmer than Sarasota in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Sarasota fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sarasota 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 Sarasota during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Sarasota receives 234 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Sarasota. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Sarasota receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Sarasota is June to November.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Sarasota 76°F (24°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Sarasota in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Sarasota. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Sarasota because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Kingston is much warmer than Sarasota. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Sarasota averages at about 59°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sarasota. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Sarasota. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sarasota receives 200 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Sarasota. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sarasota receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Sarasota 59°F (15°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Sarasota in the Spring?
Both Sarasota 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, the beaches are the main draw to Sarasota this time of year.
In April, Kingston is generally a little warmer than Sarasota. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Sarasota fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
It's quite sunny in Sarasota. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Sarasota during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Sarasota receives 299 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Sarasota. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Sarasota receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Sarasota.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Sarasota 73°F (23°C)
Typical Weather for Sarasota and Kingston
| Kingston | Sarasota | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.