Which place is cheaper, Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?
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.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. It's a popular beach destination and has many of the characteristics of most southeastern beach towns. There are many activities that you can enjoy and there's a concrete boardwalk that runs parallel to the water for about three miles. The boardwalk is a fun place to walk or bicycle. The beach itself is wide and sandy and is a great place to soak up some sun. During the summer months and school holidays it can get quite crowded and you might struggle to find a place for your towel and beach chairs. There are also many beach side resorts that line the water front. Most have pools and hot tubs where you can relax and some hotels have indoor pools as well, which can be nice during the cool winter months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesVirginia Beach Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Virginia Beach $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Virginia Beach is $148. 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 Virginia Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Virginia Beach $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Virginia Beach $142
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Virginia Beach
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Virginia Beach? 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 Virginia Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Virginia Beach $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Montego Bay: 5-Day Jamaica Tour with Meals and Transfers: $2,200
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $263
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $263
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston: $260
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast: $240
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande: $200
- Private Transfer from Kingston hotel to Falmouth Cruise Port: $197
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Hilton Rose Hall: $187
- Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to or from Hotels in Falmouth Area: $173
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $167
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Virginia Beach
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Virginia Beach:
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Beach Parking$10
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Virginia Beach?
Prices for flights to both Virginia Beach 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 $45Virginia Beach $52
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Virginia Beach $21
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Outback Adventure from Kingston: $288
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Black River Safari Tour from Kingston: $272
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley Museum Express Tour from Port Royal Cruise Port: $141
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
- Bob Marley Museum, Devon House and Downtown Kingston Tour: $125
Tours and Activities in Virginia Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Virginia Beach.
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Virginia Beach by Wacky Walks: $10
- Virginia Beach True Crime Tour: $19
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk Historian-Guided Tour: $19
- Virginia Beach True Crime Tour: $19
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk History Tour: $20
- Owl Creek Landing Forest Adventure Experience Ticket: $23
- Buried Beneath the Boardwalk: Neptune Ghouls and Ghost Tours: $24
- Buried Beneath the Boardwalk: Neptune Ghouls and Ghost Tours: $26
- Candle Making Experience at Sugared Mango: $55
- Ziplining and Climbing at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium: $64
- Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours: $68
- Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Virginia Beach $11
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Virginia Beach, we can see that Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Virginia Beach?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Virginia Beach. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach in the Summer?
Both Virginia Beach 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, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Virginia Beach. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun.
Virginia Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Virginia Beach 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Virginia Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area.
Kingston is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Virginia Beach during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 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 Virginia Beach. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Virginia Beach 62°F (16°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Virginia Beach in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Virginia Beach. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the winter for the cuisine.
Virginia Beach can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Kingston is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Virginia Beach. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Virginia Beach. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Virginia Beach 39°F (4°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Virginia Beach in the Spring?
Both Virginia Beach 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, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Kingston is generally much warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Virginia Beach 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Kingston
| Kingston | Virginia Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.7 inches (145 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (79 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.