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

Should you visit Kingston or Clearwater?

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

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

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.

Clearwater

Clearwater is a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for its sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Its most famous beach (Clearwater Beach) is located on a barrier island with white sands and crystal waters - a perfect setting for activities such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, dolphin and sunset tours, parasailing, and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Clearwater or Kingston?

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

  • Kingston Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Clearwater Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Kingston $123
    Clearwater $343

The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Clearwater is $343. 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 Clearwater in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $62
    Clearwater $141
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $124
    Clearwater $282
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Clearwater

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Clearwater? 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 Clearwater


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 Clearwater Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $28
    Clearwater $221

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • From Kingston Airport: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $19
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
  • Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $24
  • Private Transfer from Kingston's Airport: $32
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
  • Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $37
  • Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
  • Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
  • Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
  • From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Clearwater

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Clearwater:

  • Private Transfer from St Petersburg Clearwater Airport to St Pete Beach: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Clearwater?

Prices for flights to both Clearwater 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
    Clearwater $79

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Clearwater

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

  • Clearwater Beach Fun and Tropical Food Tour: $99
  • Clearwater Beach: Tropical Delights Walking Food Tour: $106
  • Taste of Downtown St Petersburg-A Walking/Food Tour: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $12
    Clearwater -

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

Tours and Activities in Clearwater

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Clearwater are as follows:

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Clearwater by Operation City Quest: $10
  • St. Petersburg Jungle Prada Site History Tour: $14
  • St Petersburg Ultimate (ALL-IN-ONE) City Trolley Tour : $25
  • Clearwater Daytime Yacht Sightseeing Cruise with Optional Dining : $27
  • Clearwater; Aspirations Winery Tour and Tasting Experience: $27
  • Happy Hour Cruise: $27
  • Dolphin Watching Intercoastal Cruise: $27
  • Clearwater Beach Tiki Getaway Cruise BYOB: $27
  • Clearwater Beach: Sunset and Harbor Lights Cruise: $28
  • Clearwater Beach: Dolphin & Island Sandbar Cruise: $28
  • Mega Bite Dolphin Tour Boat in Clearwater Beach: $28
  • Clearwater Beach: Dolphin-Watching Sunset Cruise: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Clearwater -

Sample the Local Flavors in Clearwater

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Clearwater:

  • Saint Petersburg Bar Crawl: $15
  • St Petersburg Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience: $25
  • The Tour and Wine Tasting Experience at Aspirations Winery: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Clearwater, we can see that Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Clearwater 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 Clearwater Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Clearwater?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Clearwater. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Clearwater, 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 Kingston or Clearwater?

Clearwater 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 Kingston or Clearwater in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Clearwater. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Clearwater in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as Clearwater. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Clearwater averages at about 82°F (28°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Clearwater this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Clearwater during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Clearwater receives 265 hours of full sun in the summer.

Clearwater receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Clearwater. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Clearwater receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kingston 29°C (83°F) 
    Clearwater 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Clearwater in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Clearwater. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Clearwater for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Kingston is generally a little warmer than Clearwater. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Clearwater fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Clearwater. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Clearwater. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Clearwater receives 234 hours of full sun.

Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Clearwater. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Clearwater receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Clearwater is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kingston 28°C (82°F) 
    Clearwater 75°F (24°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Clearwater in the Winter?

Both Clearwater and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Clearwater because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Kingston is much warmer than Clearwater in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Clearwater fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Clearwater. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Clearwater during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Clearwater receives 200 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Clearwater. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Clearwater receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kingston 26°C (79°F) 
    Clearwater 60°F (15°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Clearwater in the Spring?

Both Clearwater and Kingston during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Clearwater this time of year.

In the spring, Kingston is a little warmer than Clearwater. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Clearwater averages at about 71°F (22°C).

In Clearwater, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Clearwater. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Clearwater receives 299 hours of full sun.

Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Clearwater. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Clearwater receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Clearwater is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kingston 26°C (80°F) 
    Clearwater 71°F (22°C)

Typical Weather for Clearwater and Kingston

Kingston Clearwater
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 60°F (15°C) 2.3 inches (59 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 61°F (16°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 67°F (19°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 71°F (22°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 77°F (25°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 81°F (27°C) 6.5 inches (165 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 82°F (28°C) 8.4 inches (214 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 82°F (28°C) 8 inches (203 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 81°F (27°C) 6.3 inches (161 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 75°F (24°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 68°F (20°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm)