Which place is cheaper, Virginia Beach or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Virginia Beach $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Virginia Beach $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Virginia 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 $30Virginia Beach $39
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
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 $27Virginia Beach $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Virginia Beach $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
- 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 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
- Neptune Ghosts Haunted Walking Tour: $26
- Neptune Ghosts: Ghosts of the Coast By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Sunset Stand-Up Paddleboarding Tour: $45
- Morning Stand-Up Paddleboarding Tour: $45
- Ziplining and Climbing at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium: $59
- Dolphin Stand-Up Paddleboard Tour: $60
- Wetland Zip Tour: $65
- Sunset Dolphin Kayak Tours: $68
- Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour: $68
- Kayak Dolphin Tours | Must Know How to Swim: $78
- Dolphin Kayak Tour in Virginia Beach Must know how to swim: $87
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:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
When comparing the travel costs between Kingston and Virginia Beach, we can see that Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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 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.