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

Should you visit Kingston or Calgary?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Calgary, 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: Kingston or Calgary?

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.

Calgary

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Kingston?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $177. 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 Kingston and Calgary in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $62
    Calgary $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $124
    Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Calgary

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Calgary? 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 Kingston


Hotels in Calgary


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 and Calgary Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $28
    Calgary $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
  • Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfer to Ocho Rios Airbnb Home, Resorts: $133
  • Airport Transfers from Kingston.: $70
  • From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Negril: $749
  • From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
  • From Kingston Airport: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $19
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Negril: $79
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
  • Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
  • Airport transfers One Way to all hotels - private: $79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:

  • Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Luxury SUV: $141
  • Banff (Canmore) to Calgary Airport | Private Transfer: $215
  • Banff Lake Louise or Canmore and Calgary Private Shuttle Transfer: $60
  • Banff/Canmore to Calgary or YYC Airport Private Transfer: $212
  • Banff: Private Transfer to Calgary Airport or Calgary: $126
  • Black Car Airport Transfers in Bow Valley: $293
  • Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $100
  • Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $201
  • Calgary Airport (YYC) to Sunshine Village - Arrival Transfer: $213
  • Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $45
  • Calgary Airport to Banff (Canmore) | Private Transfer: $215
  • Calgary Airport: Private Transfer to Drumheller: $215

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Calgary?

Prices for flights to both Calgary and Kingston 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
    Kingston $44
    Calgary $54

Typical Food Prices in Calgary

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:


  • Bread, Chips, Cheese
    $8.10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.

  • Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
  • Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $62
  • Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $80
  • Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $127
  • Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $12
    Calgary $15

Tours and Activities in Kingston

Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Art Walk Sunday Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $9.78
  • Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
  • Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
  • Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
  • Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
  • Mural Tours in the Downtown Kingston Art District, Jamaica: $40
  • Reggae Legend - Bob Marley Museum Tour Tickets: $41
  • Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios : $62
  • Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
  • Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
  • Private Bob Marley Tour Experience: $65
  • Kingston City Guided Tour - Classic: $69

Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary

Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Stampede Admission (for 2)
    $22

Tours and Activities in Calgary

Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tips-Based City Highlights Walking Tour | 3-Hour: $4.02
  • Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
  • Sam Centre Calgary Stampede Museum Ticket: $7.18
  • Calgary Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • Discover Calgary with 3 Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $15
  • Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21
  • Calgary Flames Ice Hockey Game Ticket: $28
  • Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $29
  • The Connaught Mural Tour of Calgary: $37
  • Victoria Park Mural Tour of Calgary: $37
  • Calgary Self Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt: $42
  • Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Half Day Tour: $44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Calgary $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary

Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Calgary Bar Crawl: Cruisin' Calgary: $12
  • Brewery Tours at Award Winning Venues: $82
  • Calgary Brewery Tour: $88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Calgary is in North America, 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary 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 Kingston Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Calgary, 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.