Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kingston or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Tamarindo, 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $126Tamarindo $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $126, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $159. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Tamarindo $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Tamarindo $110
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Tamarindo $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- Private Kingston Airport (KIN) Transfer for Kingston Hotels: $20
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $33
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Airport /Hotel Transfer Norman Manley airport and Montego bay: $40
- Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $45
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Airport Transfer from Intl. Liberia (LIR) to Tamarindo- Flamingo: $170
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt (Round Trip): $180
- Convenient airport transfers from Liberia: $20
- Costa Rica Private Guanacaste Airport (LIR) Departure transfer: $5.00
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $122
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- JW Marriott/Riu Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Transfer: $105
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer to Best Western Tamarindo: $24
- Liberia Airport To Andaz Papagayo Resort, Private Transfer: $128
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $95
- Liberia Airport Transfer To Playa Conchal And Playa Flamingo: $165
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $45Tamarindo $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Tamarindo $19
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
- Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio Admission Ticket: $30
- Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Rhythmic Walking Music Tour: $40
- Guided Bar Hopping Tour with VIP Speakeasy Entry: $40
- Judgement Yard Tour: $50
- Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion Studio Tour: $50
- Kingston Night Market Experience from Kingston: $55
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Tamarindo Nightlife Pass Experience Adventure: $10
- UNICO Luxury 1-Hour Boat Tour and Flamingo: $30
- Paintball Experience near Tamarindo: $32
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Boat adventure with wildlife viewing in Tamarindo: $45
- Tamarindo Mangrove Tour: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- Conchal Beach Horseback Riding - 1hr 30min Guided Tour: $50
- Turtle Nesting Tour Playa Grande CR: $55
- Rain Forest Canopy Tour from Zipline, Hanging Bridge: $60
- Tamarindo wildlife Estuary boat ride tour 1 hour and 45 minutes: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Tamarindo $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Puro Vino - Tamarindo's Wine Tour Ride: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo 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 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kingston or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Tamarindo. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Also, December to May in Tamarindo is the dry season. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Tamarindo. It's quite rainy in Tamarindo. Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets less rain in October than Tamarindo. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Tamarindo in the Winter?
Both Tamarindo and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Kingston usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Kingston is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
December to May is the dry season in Tamarindo. Also, June to November in Tamarindo is the hurricane season. Kingston usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Tamarindo. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Tamarindo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Kingston is generally cooler than Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Kingston
| Kingston | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.