Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Sydney?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sydney or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney 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: Sydney or Kingston?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySydney $278Kingston $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $278, 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 Sydney and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $104Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $208Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $15Kingston $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Airport Transfer From Sydney Airport to Hotels and Home: $295
- Airport Transfer From Sydney Airport to Hotels and Home: $165
- Airport Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney by Luxury Van: $114
- Airport Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD by Business Car: $103
- Airport Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD by Luxury Van: $114
- Airport transfers and shuttle bus - home/hotels: $198
- Arrival Transfer from Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney city by Sedan: $98
- Arrival Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney in Business Car: $103
- Arrival Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney in Luxury Van: $114
- Departure Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD in Luxury Van: $114
- Family Sydney Airport Departure Transfer: $87
- From Sydney Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Sydney: $67
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: $168
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- Kingston Airport to & From Sandals Ocho Rios Transfer: $200
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $215
Is it cheaper to fly into Sydney or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Sydney 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 daySydney $45Kingston $26
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.64
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Lunch Special$9.91
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.91
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Meat Pies$3.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- VIVID Dinner Cruise with Complimentary Drink on Arrival: $36
- Vivid Sydney Harbor Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Christmas in July Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $57
- Twilight Dinner Cruise (1.5 hour): $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour: Tall Ship Vivid Dinner Cruise: $59
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
- Small Group Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet at Bohemian Cafe: $64
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Premium Dinner Cruise 2 Hours: $66
- Sydney Harbour: Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise: $69
- Latino Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sydney $32Kingston $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$30
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$126
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Powerhouse Museum$9.94
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $2.15
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Spirits of Sydney - Self Guided Ghost Tour of the Rocks Area: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Australia: Tourist eSIM Data Plan: $11
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Secret Laneways Scavenger Hunt Adventure Game: $17
- Botanic Garden Self-Guided Adventure Hunt for Kids: $17
- Australian National Maritime Museum: All-Inclusive Ticket: $17
- Unlock The Rocks Scavenger Hunt Adventure Game: $17
- Australian National Maritime Museum Entry Ticket - See it All: $17
- Allianz Stadium Guided Walking Tour: $17
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
- Bob Marley Museum Tour Skip the Line Tickets: $45
- 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
- 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 daySydney $15Kingston $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Haunted Pub Tour with Local Guide: $21
- Sydney's Haunted Pub Tour with a Licensed Guide: $26
- Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $30
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl: $30
- Private Wine Tour and Tasting: $56
- Urban Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese Platter: $56
- Balmain Pub Walking Tour: $77
- Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney: $84
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $103
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- Northern Beaches Brewery Tour and Tasting: $122
- Hunter Valley Wine Tasting + Lunch Guided Day Tour : $133
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 Sydney and Kingston, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Kingston?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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 Sydney or Kingston?
Sydney 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 Sydney or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Sydney is cooler than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Sydney 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 Sydney. Sydney usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston during summer. Sydney gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Sydney. In January, Sydney usually receives more rain than Kingstonin July. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 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 JulySydney 23°C (73°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Sydney during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Sydney this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the autumn, Sydney is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sydney in April average around 19°C (65°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, Sydney often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin October. Sydney gets 195 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sydney. Sydney usually gets less rain in April than Kingstonin October. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 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 OctoberSydney 19°C (65°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Kingston. Many travelers come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Sydney is generally much colder than Kingstonin January. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 12°C (53°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sydney usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Sydney gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Sydney usually receives more rain than Kingstonin January. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 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 JanuarySydney 12°C (53°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Kingston. Many visitors come to Sydney in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Sydney is cooler than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 18°C (64°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 Sydney this time of the year. In the spring, Sydney often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingstonin April. Sydney gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.
Sydney usually gets more rain in October than Kingstonin April. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 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 AprilSydney 18°C (64°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Sydney
| Sydney | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.