Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lisbon or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lisbon or Kingston? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lisbon or Kingston?
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon €131Kingston €100
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, while the average daily cost in Kingston is €100. 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 Lisbon and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon €58Kingston €59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon €116Kingston €118
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Kingston? 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon €24Kingston €27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
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Taxi Ride€6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Private Transfer to Óbidos | Caldas da Rainha: $56
- Airport Private Transfer to Costa da Caparica | Almada | Aroeira: $33
- Airport Private Transfer to Ericeira | Torres Vedras | Campo Real: $55
- Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $23
- Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $60
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $66
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $95
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $66
- Arrábida Snorkeling Adventure with Transfer from Lisbon: $87
- Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $94
- Cascais transfer: Private Transfer to/from Cascais or Lisbon: $59
- Departure Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $71
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast : $240
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $230
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston : $255
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Lisbon 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 dayLisbon €42Kingston €24
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
- Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
- Tapas Food Tour: $38
- Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
- Lisbon Food Tour: $53
- Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
- 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
- Cooking Pastel de Nata with a glass of wine !: $54
- Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
- Original Morning Food Tour: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lisbon €24Kingston €12
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.08
- Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
- Belém Unveiled: A Free Tour Through the Age of Discoveries: $1.29
- Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.26
- Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.38
- Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.38
- Graça Church Entry Ticket with Drink on the Terrace: $5.38
- Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.38
- Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.38
- Wonders of Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.38
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon: $5.53
- Príncipe Real to Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
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
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios : $85
- 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 Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLisbon €18Kingston €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $17
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
- Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
- 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
- Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
- Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
- Pub Crawl Walking Tour with Shots and Drinking Games: $22
- Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
- Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
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 Lisbon and Kingston, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lisbon is in Europe and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Lisbon. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Kingston, 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 Lisbon or Kingston?
Lisbon 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 Lisbon or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Lisbon during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
Lisbon is cooler than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Lisbon. In the summer, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Kingston. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Lisbon usually gets less rain in July than Kingston. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLisbon 23°C (73°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Kingston. Many visitors come to Lisbon in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Lisbon is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lisbon in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Lisbon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lisbon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during autumn. Lisbon gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Lisbon usually receives less rain than Kingston. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLisbon 19°C (66°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Kingston. Most visitors come to Lisbon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
In January, Lisbon is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 12°C (53°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the winter, Lisbon often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Lisbon receives a lot of rain in the winter. Lisbon usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLisbon 12°C (53°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Lisbon is much colder than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lisbon. Lisbon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during spring. Lisbon gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Kingston. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLisbon 16°C (60°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Lisbon
| Lisbon | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.