Which place is cheaper, Rapid 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 Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Rapid 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 Rapid 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.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesRapid City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Rapid City $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $133. 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 Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Rapid City $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Rapid 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 Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Rapid City $53
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 Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid 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 $44Rapid City $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Rapid City $26
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 Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Audio Tour Guide : $15
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Black Hills Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $20
- Mount Rushmore Theodore Roosevelt and Badlands Self-Guided Tour: $33
- Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone: $125
- Guided Tour with Journey Museum Admission: $148
- Rapid City Shared Tour: $148
- From Mt. Rushmore Memorial Tour: $148
- Mount Rushmore Memorial Shared Tour from Rapid City, South Dakota: $148
- Black Hills Tour with Monument Tour: $179
- From Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup Tour: $185
- Mt Rushmore Night Ceremony and Tour - with Tunnels and Stargazing: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Rapid City $6.93
When comparing the travel costs between Kingston and Rapid City, we can see that Rapid City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Rapid City is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Rapid City?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Rapid 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.
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.