Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or Kingston?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81Kingston $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $109. 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 Mandeville and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38Kingston $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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: Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31Kingston $30
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 Montego Bay Port: $117
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast : $240
- Private Transfer From Norman Manley Airport to Kingston one way: $48
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Norman Manley Airport to Montego Bay: $284
- Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $228
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston : $253
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Mandeville 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 dayMandeville $24Kingston $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31Kingston $13
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
- Blue Lagoon and Canoeing Ride Experience Portland Jamaica : $210
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Hike & Bike Tour from Runaway Bay: $178
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Bob Marley Museum Express Tour from Port Royal Cruise Port: $141
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51Kingston $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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston than you might in Mandeville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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 Mandeville or Kingston?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Mandeville or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Mandeville during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in July than Kingston. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the summer, Mandeville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mandeville in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Kingston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mandeville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kingston. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Kingston. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 28°C (82°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Kingston. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the winter, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Kingston. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mandeville in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Mandeville
| Mandeville | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 104 mm (4.1 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.