Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento and Montego Bay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay?
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColonia del Sacramento $68Montego Bay $203
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $68, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $203. 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 Colonia del Sacramento and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColonia del Sacramento $34Montego Bay $104
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColonia del Sacramento $68Montego Bay $208
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento 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: Colonia del Sacramento Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $17Montego Bay $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer : $15
- Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer : $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Transfer from/to Airport, Riu Reggae, Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace: $17
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $55
- Tobys Resort Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Sunset at the Palms Negril Airport Transfers: $53
- Southcoast Private Airport Transfer: $108
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Negril: $27
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Lucea : $20
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Secrets Wild Orchid Hotel Airport Transfer : $21
- Secrets Wild Ochid/ St. James Private Airport Transfer: $43
- Secrets Resort Airport Transfer: $20
- Secrets & Breathless Hotel Montego Bay - Private Airport Transfer: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Colonia del Sacramento 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 dayColonia del Sacramento $19Montego Bay $84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sensory Experience - Blind dinner in Colonia Del Sacramento: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Private Transportation to DINNER or NIGHT CLUBS: $55
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- Private Sea-Food Tour & Floyds Pelican Bar from Montego Bay or ..: $185
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $24Montego Bay $32
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking tour around Colonia del Sacramento Old Town: $15
- Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $18
- Shared City Tour at sunset in Historic Neighborhood: $20
- Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
- Hike at promenade + entry ticket to bullring (Walk 5.5km): $28
- Winery tour with shared transport and tasting included: $38
- Shared Boat Tour Experience - Colonia del Sacramento: $43
- Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $53
- Full gastronomic experience: Uruguayan meat,cheese and wine: $55
- Historical Walking Tour with Snack: $58
- Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
- From Horse Ride Experience: $72
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$2.74
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$44
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- ATV Adventure to Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe: $220
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, and Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $173
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Pelican Bar Customize Tour: $120
- Bioluminescence Lagoon tour from Montego Bay with Pick Up: $105
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Blue Hole Adventure Tour : $120
- Dirt Adventure ATV from Montego Bay: $160
- Floyds Pelican Bar Private Tour : $155
- Green Grotto Cave Private Tour: $115
- Horseback Riding and Tour from Montego Bay : $230
- Jetski Experience: $245
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColonia del Sacramento $5.85Montego Bay $13
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 Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Colonia del Sacramento is in South America 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 Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay?
Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Montego Bay. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
In the summer, Colonia del Sacramento is cooler than Montego Bay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 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 Colonia del Sacramento this time of the year. In the summer, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Montego Bayin July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun.
Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in January than Montego Bayin July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 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 JulyColonia del Sacramento 25°C (77°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
Both Montego Bay and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Colonia del Sacramento is generally cooler than Montego Bayin October. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 18°C (65°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 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. It's quite rainy in Colonia del Sacramento. In April, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less rain than Montego Bayin October. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 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 April and OctoberColonia del Sacramento 18°C (65°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay in the Winter?
Both Montego Bay and Colonia del Sacramento during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
Colonia del Sacramento is much colder than Montego Bay in the winter. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F)in January.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento often gets less sunshine than Montego Bayin January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun.
Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in July than Montego Bayin January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 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 JanuaryColonia del Sacramento 12°C (53°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montego Bay in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Montego Bay. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Colonia del Sacramento is cooler than Montego Bay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In Colonia del Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montego Bay during spring. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
Colonia del Sacramento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Montego Bayin April. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 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 AprilColonia del Sacramento 18°C (64°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Colonia del Sacramento
| Colonia del Sacramento | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 89 mm (3.5 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.