Which place is cheaper, Richmond 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 Richmond?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Richmond, 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 Richmond?
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.
Richmond
One of the oldest American cities, Richmond was established in 1607 by English settlers led by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. During the Civil War it existed as the capital of the Confederacy, and today it remains the capital of the U.S. state of Virginia. There are many historic sights to see and museums to explore, as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesRichmond Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Richmond $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Richmond is $176. 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 Richmond in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Richmond $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Richmond $202
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Richmond
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Richmond? 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 Richmond Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Richmond $72
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 Richmond
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Richmond:
- Richmond Airport (RIC) to Richmond city - Arrival Private Transfer: $175
- Richmond City to Richmond Airport (RIC) - Departure Private Transfer: $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Richmond?
Prices for flights to both Richmond 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 $44Richmond $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Richmond
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Richmond.
- Church Hill Food Tour: $89
- Trendy Carytown Food Tour: $89
- The Carytown Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
- Church Hill Food Tour with Discover Richmond Tours: $90
- Arts District Food Tour in Richmond with Discover Richmond: $90
- Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond: $94
- Arts District Walking Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Richmond $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
Tours and Activities in Richmond
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Richmond are as follows:
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by Crazy Dash: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Richmond by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- The Haunted History of Richmond tour: $25
- Uncivil Wards History Tour: $25
- The Church Hill tour with Historian Jane: $25
- Shadows of Shockoe Ghost Tour: $26
- Haunted Capitol Hill Ghost Tour: $27
- Church Hill Chillers Ghost Tour: $27
- Phantoms of Franklin Ghost Tour: $27
- Creepy Tales on Campus Ghost Tour: $27
- Specters & Shades of Court End Ghost Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Richmond -
Sample the Local Flavors in Richmond
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Richmond:
- Richmond Virginia Bar Crawl: $15
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Richmond Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl : $37
- Richmond Craft Brewery Crawl By Junket: $86
- Brewery Tour of Richmond, VA: $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Richmond, we can see that Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Richmond 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 Richmond Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Richmond?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Richmond, 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 Richmond?
Richmond 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 Richmond in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Richmond. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Richmond because of the family-friendly experiences.
Kingston is a little warmer than Richmond in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Richmond fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Richmond this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Richmond during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 305 hours of full sun in the summer.
Richmond receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Richmond. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Richmond 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Richmond in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Richmond. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the shopping scene are the main draw to Richmond this time of year.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Richmond. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Richmond averages at about 59°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Richmond. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 221 hours of full sun.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Richmond. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Richmond 59°F (15°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Richmond in the Winter?
Both Richmond 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, many travelers come to Richmond for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Richmond. In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Richmond. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Richmond fluctuates around 36°F (2°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Richmond during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Richmond receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Richmond. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Richmond 36°F (2°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Richmond in the Spring?
Both Richmond 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.
Kingston is much warmer than Richmond in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Richmond fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In Richmond, 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 Richmond. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Richmond receives 265 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Richmond. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Richmond receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Richmond 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Richmond and Kingston
| Kingston | Richmond | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 41°F (5°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.