Which place is cheaper, Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Wilmington, 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 Wilmington?
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.
Wilmington
Wilmington is a port city in southeastern North Carolina. It's a great city to visit for it's nearby beaches, large historic district, and quaint atmosphere. The city has a population of about 115,000 and it's the eighth largest city in the state.
Wilmington is also home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington as well as the EUE Screen Gems Studios. This is the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California. The studio, which opened in 1984, helped grow Wilmington into a major base for film and television production. The city has been the backdrop for many movies and tv shows including Iron Man 3, Sleepy Hollow, One Tree Hill, and Revolution.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesWilmington Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $123Wilmington $245
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $123, while the average daily cost in Wilmington is $245. 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 Wilmington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $62Wilmington $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $124Wilmington $240
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Wilmington
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Wilmington? 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 Wilmington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $28Wilmington $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Montego Bay: 5-Day Jamaica Tour with Meals and Transfers: $2,200
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Negril: $749
- Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $479
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $369
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $261
- Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Kingston Round Trip Airport Transfers to Ocho Rios : $230
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Airport Group Transfers-Kingston: $180
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to and from Hotels in Montego Bay: $173
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Wilmington?
Prices for flights to both Wilmington 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 $44Wilmington $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12Wilmington $17
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 Wilmington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Wilmington.
- True Crime Tour of Wilmington: $20
- Downtown Wilmington Historian-Guided Walking Tour: $20
- Wilmington Coup and Massacre Historic Tour: $20
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Wilmington by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Eagles Island 50 minute Narrated Boat Cruise: $24
- History and Architecture Walking Tour : $25
- Wraiths & Wicked Whispers: Wilmington Ghost Tour: $26
- Holiday Lights Cruise: $30
- Wilmington Speakeasy and History Tour: $30
- Black Water Adventure Cruise: $33
- Sunset Cruise with Live Music: $45
- Wrightsville Beach Sunset Dolphin Tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Wilmington $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Wilmington, we can see that Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wilmington 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 Wilmington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Wilmington?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Wilmington. When comparing the sizes of Kingston and Wilmington, 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 Wilmington?
Wilmington 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 Wilmington in the Summer?
Both Wilmington and Kingston during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Wilmington this time of year.
In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as Wilmington. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Wilmington averages at about 81°F (27°C).
In Wilmington, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets less sunshine than Wilmington. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 283 hours of full sun.
Wilmington gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than Wilmington. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Wilmington 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Wilmington in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Wilmington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Wilmington for the shopping scene.
In October, Kingston is generally much warmer than Wilmington. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and Wilmington fluctuates around 65°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wilmington during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Wilmington. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Wilmington 65°F (18°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Wilmington in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Wilmington. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Wilmington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Kingston is much warmer than Wilmington in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Wilmington fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Wilmington. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 180 hours of full sun.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Wilmington. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Wilmington 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Kingston or Wilmington in the Spring?
Both Wilmington and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Wilmington for the beaches during these months.
In the spring, Kingston is much warmer than Wilmington. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Wilmington averages at about 63°F (17°C).
It's quite sunny in Wilmington. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Wilmington during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Wilmington. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Wilmington 63°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for Wilmington and Kingston
| Kingston | Wilmington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.1 inches (207 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 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.