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

Should you visit Kingston or Duck?

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

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

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.

Duck

Duck is a resort town in Dare County, North Carolina. The town is quite small, with a year around population of just 369, but during the peak summer months the tourist crowds can climb to over 20,000. Duck is also the northernmost incorporated town in the county, and also the newest town in the Outer Banks, having been incorporated on May 1st, 2002.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Duck 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 Duck is $221. 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 Duck in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $62
    Duck $107
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $124
    Duck $214
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Duck

Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Duck? 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 Duck


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $28
    Duck $66

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Duck?

Prices for flights to both Duck 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
    Duck $78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kingston $12
    Duck $13

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    Duck $45


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


Which is Bigger, Kingston or Duck?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 1670 times larger than the population of Duck. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Duck, 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 Duck?

Duck 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 Duck in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Duck. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, most visitors come to Duck for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Kingston is a little warmer than Duck. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Duck averages at about 78°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Duck this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Duck during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Duck receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

Duck receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Duck. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Duck receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kingston 29°C (83°F) 
    Duck 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Duck in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Duck. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Duck because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Duck. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Duck fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Duck. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Duck. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Duck receives 211 hours of full sun.

Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Duck. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Duck receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kingston 28°C (82°F) 
    Duck 62°F (16°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Duck in the Winter?

Both Duck 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 shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Duck this time of year.

It's quite cold in Duck in the winter. Kingston is much warmer than Duck in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Duck fluctuates around 41°F (5°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Duck during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Duck receives 168 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Duck. In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Duck. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Duck receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kingston 26°C (79°F) 
    Duck 41°F (5°C)

Should I visit Kingston or Duck in the Spring?

Both Duck 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Duck for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Duck. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Duck averages at about 59°F (15°C).

In Duck, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Duck. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Duck receives 253 hours of full sun.

Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Duck. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Duck receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kingston 26°C (80°F) 
    Duck 59°F (15°C)

Typical Weather for Duck and Kingston

Kingston Duck
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 41°F (5°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 50°F (10°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 59°F (15°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 67°F (19°C) 4.6 inches (117 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 74°F (23°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 78°F (26°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 78°F (25°C) 5 inches (127 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 72°F (22°C) 4.7 inches (119 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 62°F (16°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 53°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 45°F (7°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm)