A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. Kingston for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or Kingston?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Kingston, 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: Piriapolis or Kingston?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, and The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay.


Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Piriapolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, 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 Piriapolis and Kingston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $27
    Kingston $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $54
    Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Kingston

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis 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.

Hotels in Piriapolis


Hotels in Kingston


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $31
    Kingston $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
  • 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
  • Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
  • Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
  • All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
  • From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
  • Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
  • Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
  • Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
  • Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
  • Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
  • Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Kingston?

Prices for flights to both Kingston and Piriapolis 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Piriapolis $23
    Kingston $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.89
    Kingston $13

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
  • Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
  • Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
  • Ocho Rios Shore Excursion: Bus Tour of Ocho Rios, Fern Gully and Turtle Beach: $62
  • Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
  • Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
  • Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
  • Kingston Half Day Community and Art Tour: $70
  • Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
  • Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
  • Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
  • Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $8.11
    Kingston $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 Piriapolis and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Piriapolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis is in South America 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 Piriapolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Kingston?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or Kingston?

Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or Kingston in the Summer?

Both Kingston and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Piriapolis is cooler than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Kingston during summer. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Kingstonin July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Piriapolis 23°C (73°F) 
    Kingston 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Kingston in the Autumn?

Both Kingston and Piriapolis during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.

In the autumn, Piriapolis is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Piriapolis in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.

In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Piriapolis often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin October. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.

Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than Kingstonin October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Piriapolis 17°C (63°F) 
    Kingston 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Kingston in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Kingston. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Piriapolis is generally much colder than Kingstonin January. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 10°C (50°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Piriapolis usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Kingstonin January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Piriapolis 10°C (50°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Kingston in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.

Piriapolis is much colder than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. In the spring, Piriapolis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingstonin April. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in October than Kingstonin April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Piriapolis 16°C (61°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Kingston and Piriapolis

Piriapolis Kingston
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 23°C (73°F) 75 mm (3 in) 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Jun 11°C (52°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 10°C (50°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)