Which place is cheaper, Whistler 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 Whistler?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Whistler, 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 Whistler?
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.
Whistler
Located in the province of British Columbia in Canada, Whistler is most famous as the largest ski area in North America. It is also only a short distance from the city of Vancouver, and offers countless opportunities for snow boarding and other winter sports. The town has a permanent population of almost 10,000 and there is a larger seasonal population of workers that come from all over the world. Whistler is a major travel destination with more than two million people visiting the town yearly. As such, there are countless amenities available to visitors. Hotels can vary dramatically in price and quality. There are some budget options, including a couple of hostels in the area, but most people do not visit Whistler as a budget travel destination. It's usually an expensive vacation, but few would argue that it isn't worth the cost.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesWhistler Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Whistler $146
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Whistler is $146. 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 Whistler in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Whistler $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Whistler $130
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Whistler
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Whistler? 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 Whistler Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Whistler $20
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 Whistler
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Whistler:
- Private Transfer from Richmond BC to Whistler: $684
- Private Transfer from Whistler to Downtown Vancouver: $560
- Vancouver Airport Private Transfer to Whistler: $133
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Whistler?
Prices for flights to both Whistler 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 $44Whistler $52
Typical Food Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of dining costs in Whistler are as follows:
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Coffee at Starbucks$12
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Tim Hortons Breakfast$12
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Coffee at Timmy's$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whistler
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Whistler.
- Finer Things: 4-Course Dinner Tour in Whistler: $121
- Finer Things Dinner Tour in Whistler: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Whistler $78
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Whistler
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Whistler are as follows:
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Driving Range$15
Tours and Activities in Whistler
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Whistler are as follows:
- Sea to Sky Highway: a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $8.12
- Whistler Mountain Peeks Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Audain Art Museum Admission Ticket: $17
- One Hour Axe Throwing Guided Experience in Whistler: $33
- Axe Throwing Experience: $35
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure with Geocaching in Whistler: $36
- Vallea Lumina Multimedia Evening Experience: $45
- Tour, Immersive Nature Experience: $52
- Tour, Sensory Nature Experience for Families: $52
- Backcountry Snowshoeing Tour with Guide: $90
- Whistler Sightseeing Tour: Discover all of Whistler Year-Round!: $90
- Mountain Breeze Tour - Mountain E Bike - Whistler Marmot Activity: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Whistler $8.72
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Whistler, we can see that Whistler 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 Whistler 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 Whistler would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whistler 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 Whistler Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Whistler?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Whistler. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Whistler, 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 Whistler?
Whistler 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 Whistler in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Whistler. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Also, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Whistler this time of year.
In the summer, Kingston is much warmer than Whistler. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Whistler averages at about 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whistler this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Whistler during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Whistler. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Whistler 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Whistler in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Whistler. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Whistler for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Whistler. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Whistler fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Whistler. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whistler. Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kingston usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Whistler. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Whistler 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Whistler in the Winter?
Both Whistler 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 visitors come to Whistler in the winter for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Whistler can get quite cold in the winter. Kingston is much warmer than Whistler in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Whistler fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Whistler during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Whistler receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whistler. In January, Kingston usually receives less rain than Whistler. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Whistler 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Whistler in the Spring?
Both Whistler 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, most visitors come to Whistler for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Whistler. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Whistler averages at about 9°C (49°F).
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the spring, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Whistler. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whistler receives 172 hours of full sun.
Whistler gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in April than Whistler. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Whistler receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Whistler 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Whistler and Kingston
| Kingston | Whistler | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.