Which place is cheaper, Columbus or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kingston or Columbus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Columbus, 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 Columbus?
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.
Columbus
The capital city of Ohio, Columbus sits at the meeting point of America's Rust Belt, Bible Belt, Appalachia, and the Plains. It is also home of Ohio State University, which is a major financial and economic force in the city. While not always famous for it's sights and attractions, visitors will be pleasantly surprised by what they find here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesColumbus Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Columbus $193
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Columbus is $193. 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 Columbus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Columbus $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Columbus $144
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Columbus
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Columbus? 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: Kingston Hotel Prices and Columbus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Columbus $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to and from Hotels in Montego Bay: $173
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $261
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $24
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Private Arrivals or Departures Transfer: Norman Manley Airport to Kingston : $136
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Montego Bay: 5-Day Jamaica Tour with Meals and Transfers: $2,200
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $369
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Columbus
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Columbus International Airport Private Transfer with Bus or Coach: $90
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) to Columbus - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Columbus Ohio (CMH) Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer: $180
- Columbus to Columbus John Glen Airport (CMH) - Departure Private Transfer: $106
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Columbus?
Prices for flights to both Columbus 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
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Food Meals for one dayKingston $44Columbus $85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Columbus
For Columbus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Short North Walking Food Tour : $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Columbus $46
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios : $62
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Blue Mountain Tour: A Half-Day Escape from Kingston: $1,011
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley Museum Express Tour from Port Royal Cruise Port: $141
- Bob Marley Museum, Devon House and Downtown Kingston Tour: $134
- City Tour of Kingston Including Entry Fees: $105
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Devon House City Tour Combo: $85
Tours and Activities in Columbus
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Columbus by Crazy Dash: $10
- Experience a Scavenger Hunt in A German Village: $15
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Columbus with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Columbus Ohio Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus Admission Ticket: $26
- Shared Yoga and Coffee Experience On The Trolley Pub: $39
- Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure : $49
- The Perfect Half Day Columbus Adventure: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Columbus $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Columbus
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Columbus:
- Columbus Ohio Bar Crawl: $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Columbus, we can see that Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Columbus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbus 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 Columbus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Columbus?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Columbus. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Columbus, 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 Columbus?
Columbus 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 Columbus in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Columbus. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Columbus for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Kingston is a little warmer than Columbus. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Columbus averages at about 77°F (25°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbus. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the summer, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbus. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbus receives 254 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Columbus. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Columbus. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Columbus receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Columbus 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Columbus in the Autumn?
Both Columbus and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Columbus because of the shopping scene.
In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Columbus. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Columbus fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Columbus during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Columbus receives 179 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Columbus. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Columbus receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Columbus 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Columbus in the Winter?
Both Columbus and Kingston during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbus this time of year.
It's quite cold in Columbus in the winter. Kingston is much warmer than Columbus in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Columbus fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Columbus. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbus receives 105 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Columbus. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Columbus receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Columbus 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Columbus in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Columbus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Columbus. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Columbus averages at about 54°F (12°C).
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Columbus during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Columbus receives 200 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Columbus. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Columbus receives 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Columbus 54°F (12°C)
Typical Weather for Columbus and Kingston
| Kingston | Columbus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
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.