Which place is cheaper, Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs?
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.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesHot Springs Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Hot Springs $220
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Hot Springs is $220. 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 Hot Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Hot Springs $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Hot Springs $200
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Hot Springs
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Hot Springs? 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 Hot Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Hot Springs $47
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 Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Hot Springs?
Prices for flights to both Hot Springs 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 $44Hot Springs $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Hot Springs $30
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 Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Hot Springs $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Hot Springs, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Hot Springs?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs?
Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Hot Springs. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as Hot Springs. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Hot Springs averages at about 83°F (28°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Hot Springs during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Hot Springs receives 364 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Hot Springs. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Hot Springs receives 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Hot Springs 83°F (28°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Hot Springs in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Hot Springs. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Hot Springs. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Hot Springs fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Hot Springs. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hot Springs receives 254 hours of full sun.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Hot Springs. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Hot Springs receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Hot Springs 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Hot Springs in the Winter?
Both Hot Springs and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Hot Springs in the winter. Kingston is much warmer than Hot Springs in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Hot Springs fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).
It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Hot Springs during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Hot Springs receives 205 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Hot Springs. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Hot Springs receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Hot Springs 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Hot Springs in the Spring?
Both Hot Springs 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.
In the spring, Kingston is a little warmer than Hot Springs. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Hot Springs averages at about 65°F (18°C).
In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Hot Springs. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hot Springs receives 304 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Hot Springs. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Hot Springs receives 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Hot Springs 65°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Hot Springs and Kingston
| Kingston | Hot Springs | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 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.