Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Melbourne?
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 Melbourne or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne or Kingston? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Melbourne or Kingston?
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
-
Melbourne Prices
Australia PricesKingston Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $195Kingston $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $195, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $123. 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 Melbourne and Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $119Kingston $62
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $238Kingston $124
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Kingston? 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: Melbourne Hotel Prices and Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Kingston $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
-
Airport Bus$10
-
Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport Arrival Or Departure Luxury Car Transfers : $111
- Airport Transfers & Day Tours in a Chauffeur-Driven Luxury Van: $128
- Airport to City Private Transfers : $128
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $179
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
- Luxury Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD : $85
- Luxury Private Airport Transfer Melbourne: $104
- MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne by Luxury Van: $167
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Sedan Car: $119
- Melbourne Airport MEL private transfer to Mel cbd-suburbs: $101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to and from Hotels in Montego Bay: $173
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $261
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $24
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Port to Kingston Airport (KIN): $268
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Private Arrivals or Departures Transfer: Norman Manley Airport to Kingston : $136
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
- Private Airport transfer from MBJ to & from Hotel's in Ochi Rios : $46
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston and Melbourne 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 dayMelbourne $53Kingston $44
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Coffee$2.62
-
Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $27Kingston $12
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self Guided Tour of Melbourne's Best Kept Secrets: $1.78
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.78
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.16
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13
- Shrine of Remembrance Cultural Guided Tour in Melbourne: $14
- Explore Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $17Kingston $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
-
Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Small Group Yarra Valley: Redwoods Forest & Premium Wine Tour : $124
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melbourne and Kingston, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Kingston?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Kingston, 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 Melbourne or Kingston?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Melbourne during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In the summer, Melbourne is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Melbourne in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the summer, Melbourne often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingstonin July. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Kingston. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Melbourne is generally much colder than Kingstonin October. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 15°C (60°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Kingston. Most visitors come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Melbourne is much colder than Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 9°C (49°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the winter, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Kingstonin January. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Melbourne is much colder than Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Melbourne in October average around 14°C (57°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Melbourne usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.