Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Athens?
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 Athens or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Montego Bay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Montego Bay?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Montego Bay €226
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is €226. 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 Athens and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Montego Bay €89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Montego Bay €178
Compare Hotels in Athens and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Montego Bay? 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Montego Bay €13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Airport Athens to Centre Athens: $23
- One way Private Transfer Athens City Center to / from Piraeus Port: $24
- Athens Center To Piraeus Port Private Departure Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer:Athens City to Piraeus Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Piraeus Port to Athens City Center: $27
- Athens City to Piraeus Port Private Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer from Athens City Center to Piraeus Port: $27
- Piraeus Port to Athens City Private Transfer with Meet & Greet: $28
- Athens Hotels to Piraeus Port Private Transfer: $28
- Piraeus port to Athens hotels Private arrival transfer: $28
- Mykonos Private Transfer Service–Airport, Port & Hotel Transfers: $29
- Departure Transfer from Athens City to Piraeus Port: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Jet Car Adventure in Montego Bay Daytrip with Transfers: $300
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Negril Hotels: $270
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport To Ocho Rios: $267
- Ocho Rios Hotels / Resort - Airport Transfers: $267
- Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns: $260
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $245
- Private Transfer To/From Montego Bay & Airport MBJ Across Jamaica: $215
- Negril Hotels / Resort - Airport Transfers: $213
- Luxury Suburban Private Airport Transfer with Chauffeur: $200
- Airport Transfer From Kingston: $200
- Montego Bay Sunset Catamaran with Private Transfer: $190
- Zoetry Montego Bay Airport Transfers MBJ (Private Roundtrip Exclusive): $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Athens 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 dayAthens €64Montego Bay €124
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Athens Food Tour (5+ Stops) - Full Meal Included by Do Eat Better: $64
- Ancient Roman and Greek Dinner With Ancient Wine Styles: $65
- Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $79
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $80
- Sunset Tour to Temple of Poseidon with Dinner Stop from Athens: $80
- Athens at Night Enchanting Walking Tour and Dinner Delights: $82
- Small Group Greek Traditional Food Tour in Athens 20+ Tastings: $82
- Athens Food Tour: Flavors of Asia Minor (private group): $82
- Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $82
- Quick Greek Street Food Cooking Class in Athens: $87
- Cook Like a Greek in Athens Hands On Cooking Class with Wine: $88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Lunch or Dinner Dining Experience in Montego Bay: $40
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $50
- Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $117
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $135
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Montego Bay €27
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self Guided Walking Tour in Athens Hidden Gems: $3.49
- Self-Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.49
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Athens Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.82
- Athens Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h20 and 29 Audio Reviews: $6.88
- South Slope Acropolis Self-Guided 3D Audio Tour (No Ticket): $8.15
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.16
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Self-Guided Audio Tour on your Phone (without ticket): $9.32
- Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $11
- Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Corinth Tour: $12
- TOP Athens : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $12
- Athens Museum of Cycladic Art | AdmissionTicket: $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach€2.34
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Snorkeling Trip€16
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One Tank Dive€33
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride€37
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- “ATV Adventure & Rick’s Café Experience from Montego Bay: $123
- 1 Hour Efoil Experience in Montego Bay: $150
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 2 Hour Private Montego Bay City Tour with Souvenir’s Shopping: $80
- 27/27 Lounge, Pier 1 & Margaritaville Nightlife Tour In Jamaica: $72
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $58
- 4 Hours Private Night Life Experience in Montego Bay: $66
- 4-Hour Catamaran Party Cruise with Open Bar from Montego Bay: $200
- 5 Hour Private Tour at Negril Beach and Rick's Cafe: $150
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- 7 Mile Beach Party Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling & Ricks Cafe: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Montego Bay €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $16
- Athens Party Pub Crawl w/ 1-hour Open Bar & VIP Nightclub Access: $17
- Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl Acropolis Views and Nightclub Fun: $17
- Saturday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens, Greece: $25
- Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $37
- Organic and Vegan Indigenous Wine Tasting Private Experience: $47
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting: $57
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $57
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $57
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store: $65
- 3-Hour Shared Greek Wine Tasting: $105
- Athens Small-Group Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Montego Bay 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 Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens 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 Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay than you might in Athens.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Montego Bay?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Montego Bay, 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 Athens or Montego Bay?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montego Bay experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Montego Bay in the Summer?
Both Montego Bay and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In July, Athens is generally around the same temperature as Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Montego Bay. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Montego Bay. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Athens or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Montego Bay. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Athens is cooler than Montego Bay in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Athens or Montego Bay in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Montego Bay. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
In the winter, Athens is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in January than Montego Bay. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Athens or Montego Bay in the Spring?
Both Montego Bay and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Athens is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montego Bay during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Athens
| Athens | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.