Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Rotterdam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rotterdam or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rotterdam and Kingston. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rotterdam or Kingston?
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.
There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.
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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRotterdam €152Kingston €100
The average daily cost (per person) in Rotterdam is €152, 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 Rotterdam and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRotterdam €77Kingston €59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRotterdam €154Kingston €118
Compare Hotels in Rotterdam and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Rotterdam 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: Rotterdam Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rotterdam €26Kingston €27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport(AMS) to Rotterdam- Round-Trip Transfer: $131
- Private Direct Transfer from Rotterdam to Amsterdam: $170
- Private Minivan Transfer from Rotterdam: $295
- Private Minivan Transfer from Rotterdam : $274
- Private Rotterdam Cruise Port Departure Transfer to AMS Schiphol Airport : $164
- Private Rotterdam Cruise Port Departure Transfer to Amsterdam: $170
- Private Transfer From Rotterdam to Amsterdam, With a 2 Hour Stop: $241
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: $208
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Amsterdam hotels: $98
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $60
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
- Norman Manley Airport Private Round-trip Transfer to Kingston : $255
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast : $240
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $230
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $215
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Kingston Airport to & From Sandals Ocho Rios Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $168
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Rotterdam or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Rotterdam 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 dayRotterdam €54Kingston €24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Self-Guided Rotterdam BiteMe Food Tour: $43
- 4-Hour Food Tour - Self-guided: $48
- Guided Food Tour: $80
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $85
- Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $86
- Walking Rotterdam Food Tour: $86
- WALKING DINNER ROTTERDAM | 3 courses + 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
- Food Tour by Bike: $91
- Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $120
- Rotterdam Walking Dutch Food Tour: $153
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $161
- Private Multicultural Bike Food Tour: $274
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rotterdam €32Kingston €12
Tours and Activities in Rotterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.
- Hightlights City Centre Walking Tour: $1.08
- 2 hour Guided Walking Tour Rotterdam: $3.23
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Rotterdam Spanish Tour 2 Hours: $3.27
- Rotterdam Walking Tour in 2 Hours : $3.27
- Escape Game and Tour: $4.31
- Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- Breda: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
- Dordrecht: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.31
- Rotterdam Walking Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.65
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
- 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
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $368
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $318
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRotterdam €19Kingston €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rotterdam
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:
- Beer Brewery Noordt Tastings with Optional Tour: $8.07
- Heineken Building former brewery | Guided Tour: $8.07
- Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $12
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 Rotterdam and Kingston, we can see that Rotterdam is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam or Kingston?
Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Kingston. Many visitors come to Rotterdam in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Rotterdam is much colder than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rotterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Rotterdam usually gets more rain in July than Kingston. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 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 JulyRotterdam 17°C (62°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Rotterdam or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Rotterdam is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rotterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In October, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Kingston. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 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 OctoberRotterdam 11°C (51°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rotterdam or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Rotterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
The weather in Rotterdam can be very cold. In January, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Rotterdam usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 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 JanuaryRotterdam 2°C (36°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rotterdam or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Kingston. The activities around the city are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Rotterdam is much colder than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Kingston. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 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 AprilRotterdam 8°C (46°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Rotterdam
| Rotterdam | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.