Which place is cheaper, Tena or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kingston or Tena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Tena, 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 Tena?
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.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
-
Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesTena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Tena $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Tena is $61. 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 Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Tena $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Tena $46
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Tena
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Tena? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Tena $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
- Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfer to Ocho Rios Airbnb Home, Resorts: $133
- Airport Transfers from Kingston.: $70
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Negril: $749
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $19
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Negril: $79
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
- Airport transfers One Way to all hotels - private: $79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $46
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
- Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
- Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena 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
-
Food Meals for one dayKingston $44Tena $26
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Tena $14
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 Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Private Guided Tour to Hanging Stone Susa Cundinamarca: $55
- Medellin Paragliding Tour : $65
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Tena $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Tena, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Tena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Tena is in South 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 Tena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tena 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston than you might in Tena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Tena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Tena?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 1350 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Tena, 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.