Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Rio de Janeiro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rio de Janeiro and Kingston can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Rio de Janeiro or Kingston?
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the most popular travel destination in Brazil. It is the second largest city in Brazil and the sixth largest in the Americas. A portion of the city has been designated a World Heritage Site. It's also famous for Carnival, it's gorgeous beaches, and world-famous landmarks. Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year round due to the great weather and plenty of fun activities. The city has a wonderful natural harbor that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting.
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 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105Kingston $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, 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 Rio de Janeiro and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Kingston $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro 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: Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97Kingston $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
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Taxi Ride$2.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $468
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $468
- A transfer with safety and comfort in Rio: $45
- Airport Private Transfer - Premium Service: $65
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $80
- Angra dos Reis Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro : $107
- Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $53
- Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $123
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $54
- Arrival Private Transfer GIG or SDU Airport to Rio City by Minivan: $91
- Arrival Private Transfer from Rio Airports to Angra dos Reis by Sedan Car: $116
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 Rio de Janeiro or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Rio de Janeiro 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 dayRio de Janeiro $20Kingston $27
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
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Popcorn$0.59
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Corn on the Cob$0.78
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Hamburger$0.98
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rio de Janeiro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
- Waterfront Dinner & Live Music Experience: $46
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $72
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $79
- Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off: $80
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $82
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $105
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Rio: Ginga Tropical Folkloric Show & Optional Dinner: $142
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $7.83
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.83
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $9.97
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rio de Janeiro:
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $28
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $29
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $64
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $131
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 Rio de Janeiro and Kingston, we can see that Kingston 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 Rio de Janeiro is in South America and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Rio de Janeiro Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Kingston?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro 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 Rio de Janeiro or Kingston?
Rio de Janeiro 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 Rio de Janeiro or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Rio de Janeiro 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.
Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In January, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Kingstonin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Rio de Janeiro during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in April than Kingstonin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Kingston. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than Kingstonin January. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In July, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Kingstonin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in October than Kingstonin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 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.