Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Wellington or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington 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: Wellington or Kingston?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWellington $104Kingston $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $104, 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 Wellington and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $61Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $122Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Wellington 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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Kingston $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13
- Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
- Private Airport Transfer: $78
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $11
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $74
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $77
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $62
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 Wellington or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Wellington 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 dayWellington $30Kingston $26
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$9.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $153
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $188
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Wellington $16Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.61
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa: Gallipoli Early Entry Ticket: $9.02
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Mana Māori Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour: $14
- Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket: $16
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $28
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $28
- Wētā Workshop Experience and Guided Tour: $33
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 dayWellington $12Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour: $93
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $96
- 5 hour Martinborough shared Chefs Wine Tour with Gourmet lunch: $153
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $172
- Full Day Martinborough Wine Tour: $178
- 1/2 Day Martinborough Private Chefs wine tastings tour with lunch: $245
- Martinborough Private 5 hour Food & Wine tour with Gourmet lunch: $264
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $361
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 Wellington 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 Wellington is in Pacific 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 Wellington Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Wellington or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Wellington 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 Wellington or Kingston?
Wellington 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 Wellington or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Wellington during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Wellington is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Wellington in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Wellington. In the summer, Wellington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingstonin July. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Wellington usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 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 January and JulyWellington 18°C (64°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Kingston. Many visitors come to Wellington in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Wellington is generally much colder than Kingstonin October. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 15°C (58°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Wellington usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Wellington gets 163 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 April, Wellington usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 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 April and OctoberWellington 15°C (58°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Kingston. Most visitors come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Wellington is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 10°C (49°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the winter, Wellington often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin January. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Wellington receives a lot of rain in the winter. Wellington usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 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 July and JanuaryWellington 10°C (49°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Wellington is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Wellington in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Wellington usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Wellington gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Wellington usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 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 October and AprilWellington 13°C (55°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Wellington
| Wellington | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.