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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Kingston?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg 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: Saint Petersburg or Kingston?

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Saint Petersburg?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $107. 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 Saint Petersburg and Kingston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $37
    Kingston $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $74
    Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Kingston

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg


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: Kingston Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $7.42
    Kingston $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:


  • Metro Passes
    $1.36

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 Saint Petersburg or Kingston?

Prices for flights to both Kingston and Saint Petersburg 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
    Saint Petersburg $19
    Kingston $26
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $18
    Kingston $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
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $9.86
    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 Saint Petersburg and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg.

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


Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Kingston?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg or Kingston?

Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg or Kingston in the Summer?

Both Kingston and Saint Petersburg during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F).

In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Petersburg. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Kingston. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F) 
    Kingston 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kingston in the Autumn?

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

In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Kingston. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 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, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Kingston. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F) 
    Kingston 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kingston in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.

Saint Petersburg can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kingston in the Spring?

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

The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F).

It's quite sunny in Kingston. Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Kingston. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F) 
    Kingston 26°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Kingston and Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg Kingston
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -8°C (18°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Mar -2°C (28°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Apr 4°C (40°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Jun 16°C (60°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 77 mm (3 in) 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 11°C (52°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Oct 6°C (42°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Nov 0°C (32°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec -5°C (24°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)