Which place is cheaper, Ocean City 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 Ocean City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Ocean City, 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 Ocean City?
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.
Ocean City
One of the most popular vacation areas of the U.S. east coast, Ocean City is a long-time resort town, taking roots as a getaway when the first beach-front cottage was built in 1869. The destination sits on a strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay. The Atlantic Hotel was the first major hotel, built in 1875 and still in business today. It has been family owned and operated since Charles W. Purnell bought it in 1923.
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 PricesOcean City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Ocean City $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Ocean City is $196. 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 Ocean City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Ocean City $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Ocean City $166
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Ocean City
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Ocean City? 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 Ocean City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Ocean City $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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Ocean City?
Prices for flights to both Ocean City 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 $44Ocean City $85
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Ocean City $18
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Ocean City $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Ocean City, we can see that Ocean City 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 Ocean City 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 Ocean City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocean City 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 Ocean City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Ocean City?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Ocean City, 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 Ocean City?
Ocean City 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 Ocean City in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Ocean City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, most visitors come to Ocean City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Kingston is a little warmer than Ocean City in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Ocean City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
Ocean City receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Ocean City. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Ocean City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Ocean City in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Ocean City. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Ocean City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Ocean City averages at about 58°F (14°C).
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Ocean City. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Ocean City 58°F (14°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Ocean City in the Winter?
Both Ocean City 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year.
It's quite cold in Ocean City in the winter. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Ocean City. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Ocean City fluctuates around 35°F (2°C).
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Ocean City. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Ocean City 35°F (2°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Ocean City in the Spring?
Both Ocean City 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 Ocean City for the beaches.
Kingston is much warmer than Ocean City in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Ocean City fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Ocean City. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Ocean City 54°F (12°C)
Typical Weather for Ocean City and Kingston
| Kingston | Ocean City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 35°F (2°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (103 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) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (93 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.