Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Auckland?
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 Auckland or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Auckland and Montego Bay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Auckland or Montego Bay?
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
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 Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Auckland Prices
New Zealand PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAuckland $170Montego Bay $255
The average daily cost (per person) in Auckland is $170, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $255. 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 Auckland and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAuckland $99Montego Bay $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAuckland $198Montego Bay $200
Compare Hotels in Auckland and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Auckland 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: Auckland Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Auckland $17Montego Bay $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.47
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Transfer: Auckland Central City Centre to Auckland Airport: $25
- Arrival Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland Central City Centre: $25
- AKL Airport to City Centre|Hotels Private Transfer: $26
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Airport: $26
- Auckland:City Hotel Transfers to/from Cruise Ship in Minivan: $32
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland HTL-APT (AKL): $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland APT-HTL (AKL): $38
- Airport Private Transfer: $43
- Auckland City Hotel to Cruise Ship Transfer by SUV: $48
- Auckland Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels: $54
- Auckland:Private 1 way Airport transfer to/from CBD Minivan: $58
- Private One-Way Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland City Hotel: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $61
- Sangster Airport Montego Bay Transfer to Montego Bay or Falmouth: $16
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
- Royalton White Sands Private Airport Transfer: $40
- Royalton Blue Waters & Hideaway by Blue Waters Private Transfer: $35
- Roundtrip Montego Bay Airport Private Transfer to Hotel or Airbnb: $22
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private airport transfer to negril resorts arrival/departure: $17
- Private Transfer/Tours to/from Montego Bay: $60
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Auckland or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Auckland 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 dayAuckland $46Montego Bay $139
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
- Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
- Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
- From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Auckland $27Montego Bay $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$33
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$119
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $9.27
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories: $12
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour: $14
- Explore Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Vibrosaun Therapy Experience: $18
- Waitematā Harbour Cruise with Live Commentary: $20
- Gallery Highlights Tour and General Admission: $22
- Auckland Takapuna: Escape Game Adventure: $23
- Scenic Boat Cruise to the Riverhead Tavern: $25
- Auckland CBD: Escape Game Adventure: $26
- Scenic Harbour Cruise in Auckland : $27
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$2.63
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Snorkeling Trip$18
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
- Private Dolphin Cove Adventure : $250
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 3 Hours Private Highlights Tour & Shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica: $100
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- ATV Adventure and Rick's Cafe Tour with Transportation: $238
- ATV Jungle Safari Tour from Montego Bay: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAuckland $13Montego Bay $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $119
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
- Kumeu Wine Tour: $165
- Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $180
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
- City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
- Shore Excursion from Auckland - Private Tour & Wine Tasting: $278
- Waiheke Island Scenic Wine Tour: $301
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Auckland and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Auckland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Auckland is in Pacific 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 Auckland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Auckland 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 Auckland.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Auckland Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Auckland or Montego Bay?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Auckland 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 Auckland or Montego Bay?
Auckland 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 Auckland or Montego Bay in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Auckland as well as Montego Bay. Many travelers come to Auckland for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
Auckland is cooler than Montego Bay in the summer. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Auckland this time of the year. In the summer, Auckland often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montego Bayin July. Auckland gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun.
Auckland usually gets more rain in January than Montego Bayin July. Auckland gets 67 mm (2.6 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 January and JulyAuckland 20°C (68°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
Both Montego Bay and Auckland are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Auckland in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Auckland is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Auckland in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Auckland usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during autumn. Auckland gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In April, Auckland usually receives less rain than Montego Bayin October. Auckland gets 95 mm (3.7 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 April and OctoberAuckland 16°C (61°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Montego Bay in the Winter?
Both Montego Bay and Auckland during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Auckland for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In July, Auckland is generally much colder than Montego Bayin January. Daily temperatures in Auckland average around 11°C (52°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Auckland often gets less sunshine than Montego Bayin January. Auckland gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Auckland. Auckland usually gets more rain in July than Montego Bayin January. Auckland gets 135 mm (5.3 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 July and JanuaryAuckland 11°C (52°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Montego Bay in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Auckland and Montego Bay. The spring months attract visitors to Auckland because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Auckland is much colder than Montego Bay in the spring. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 14°C (58°F) in October, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. Auckland usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during spring. Auckland gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Auckland usually receives more rain than Montego Bayin April. Auckland gets 83 mm (3.3 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 October and AprilAuckland 14°C (58°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Auckland
| Auckland | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (53°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.