Which place is cheaper, Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island?
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.
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head, also called Hilton Head Island, is primarily a resort and beach town off the coast of South Carolina. Located on a barrier island, the place is best known for its beaches and golf courses overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesHilton Head Island Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Hilton Head Island $287
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Hilton Head Island is $287. 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 Hilton Head Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Hilton Head Island $129
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Hilton Head Island $258
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Hilton Head Island
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Hilton Head Island? 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 Hilton Head Island Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Hilton Head Island $34
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Hilton Head Island?
Prices for flights to both Hilton Head Island 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 $44Hilton Head Island $105
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hilton Head Island
For Hilton Head Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hilton Head Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Hibachi Dinner Cruise: $117
- Lowcountry Boil Dinner Cruise: $118
- Sunset Hibachi Dinner Cruise : $128
- Lowcountry Boil Dinner Cruise on Hilton Head: $148
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Hilton Head Island $23
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 Hilton Head Island
For Hilton Head Island, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tybee Island Ghost Tour: $30
- Historic Tour of Tybee Island: $35
- Walking Tour in Beaufort: $35
- 90-Minute Dolphin & Nature Tour: $35
- Beaufort City Minibus Tour: $37
- History and Movie Tour of Beaufort by Golf Cart: $38
- #1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour: $38
- Hilton Head Island Ocean Dolphin Cruise: $38
- Tybee Island Bike Tour: $39
- Beaufort’s #1 Horse & Carriage History Tour: $39
- Daytime Dolphin Watching Boat Tour: $40
- Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Hilton Head Island $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Hilton Head Island
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hilton Head Island:
- Hilton Head's ONLY Distillery Experience: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Hilton Head Island, we can see that Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Hilton Head Island?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hilton Head Island. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Hilton Head Island. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Hilton Head Island because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Hilton Head Island in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hilton Head Island. 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 Hilton Head Island. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hilton Head Island receives 267 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Hilton Head Island. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Hilton Head Island. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 7.9 inches (200 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Hilton Head Island 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Hilton Head Island in the Autumn?
Both Hilton Head Island 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 shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Hilton Head Island this time of year.
In the autumn, Kingston is a little warmer than Hilton Head Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Hilton Head Island averages at about 68°F (20°C).
It's quite sunny in Hilton Head Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hilton Head Island during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Hilton Head Island receives 223 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Hilton Head Island. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Hilton Head Island 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Hilton Head Island in the Winter?
Both Hilton Head Island 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, many travelers come to Hilton Head Island for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Hilton Head Island. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Hilton Head Island. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hilton Head Island receives 176 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Hilton Head Island. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Hilton Head Island 48°F (9°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Hilton Head Island in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Hilton Head Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Hilton Head Island in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Kingston is a little warmer than Hilton Head Island in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hilton Head Island this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Hilton Head Island during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Hilton Head Island receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Hilton Head Island. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Hilton Head Island 67°F (19°C)
Typical Weather for Hilton Head Island and Kingston
| Kingston | Hilton Head Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 5.9 inches (150 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 7.9 inches (200 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (164 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 5.6 inches (141 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.3 inches (83 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.