Which place is cheaper, Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?
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.
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is located in California, less than 100 miles from Los Angeles. It sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, giving it a stunning backdrop. The town has a population of just 90,000 but it still offers visitors many cultural, culinary, and shopping experiences that surpass many large cities. There are wide beaches along a beautiful coastline, impressive wineries, and many top rated restaurants. Many people see Santa Barbara as a hangout for the rich and famous, but with a university and diverse population, the city is much more relatable than you might expect, although travel prices here are still somewhat high.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesSanta Barbara Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Santa Barbara $196
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Santa Barbara $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Santa Barbara $176
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Santa Barbara
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Santa Barbara? 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 Santa Barbara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Santa Barbara $42
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 Santa Barbara?
Prices for flights to both Santa Barbara 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 $44Santa Barbara $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Santa Barbara $27
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 Santa Barbara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Barbara are as follows:
- Santa Barbara Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Santa Barbara CA: $15
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Goleta Isla Vista CA: $15
- Santa Barbara Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Santa Barbara Trolley Tour: $28
- Sanctum Sacrifice of Santa Barbara Ghost Tours: $32
- Santa Barbara Puzzling Adventure: $35
- Coastal Cruise on Yacht in Santa Barbara: $40
- Santa Barbara Narrated Coastal Yacht Experience: $42
- Santa Barbara Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- High Ropes Adventure Course near Santa Barbara: $45
- Santa Barbara Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Santa Barbara $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Barbara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Santa Barbara:
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Camping$20
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Barbara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santa Barbara:
- Santa Barbara Craft Brewery and History Crawl: $140
- Private Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting: $150
- Santa Ynez Valley Biking and Wine Tasting Tour: $175
- Solvang Santa Ynez Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour : $180
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour of Santa Barbara Wine Country: $235
- Santa Barbara Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Estates & Wineries: $235
- Small-Group Wine Tour to Private Locations in Santa Barbara : $235
- Santa Ynez Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $239
- Santa Ynez Cupcake & Wine Tour (All-Inclusive): $259
- Santa Barbara Wine Tour Experience - Authentic and Boutique : $265
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Santa Barbara?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Santa Barbara. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Kingston is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).
In July, Kingston usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Santa Barbara 65°F (19°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Santa Barbara. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Kingston is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Santa Barbara 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Santa Barbara in the Winter?
Both Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara this time of year.
In January, Kingston is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Santa Barbara 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Santa Barbara in the Spring?
Both Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Kingston is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Kingston usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Santa Barbara. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Santa Barbara 57°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Kingston
| Kingston | Santa Barbara | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.