Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Istanbul?
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 Istanbul or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Montego Bay, 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: Istanbul or Montego Bay?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $151Montego Bay $259
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $151, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $259. 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 Istanbul and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $70Montego Bay $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $140Montego Bay $204
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $33Montego Bay $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul VIP Shopping Experience with Transfers and Refreshments: $9.00
- Sapanca & Masukiye Day Tour from Istanbul with Lunch & Transfer: $15
- Istanbul Airport & Cruise Port Transfer – Direct Pickup VIP: $17
- Princess Islands Day Trip w Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $17
- Istanbul Princes’ Islands Tour with Lunch, Transfer and Guide: $21
- Princes Islands Tour with Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $23
- Private Istanbul Airport Transfer IST and SAW: $23
- Transfer Istanbul City Center to Istanbul Ataturk Airport: $27
- Guided Half Day Afternoon Istanbul Bosphorus Tour With Transfer: $29
- Istanbul Luxury Sunset Yacht Cruise with Transfer Option: $29
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Airport (IST): $29
- Reliable & Safe Istanbul Airport Taxi Transfer – VIP Service: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- RIU Montego Bay or S Hotel Airport & Hotel Transfer: $8.80
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $9.75
- Hyatt Zillara or Ziva Rose Hall private Transfers: $10
- Airport transfer, Private Taxi Montego Bay: $10
- Breathless Resort Exclusive Private Airport Transfer: $10
- Private Airport Transfers from Montego Bay: $10
- Private Airport transfer Montego Bay: $12
- Private Transfers: MBJ Airport ↔ RIU Montego Bay, Palace & Reggae: $13
- El Greco Resort Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Airport Transfer to Sandals Montego: $13
- Grandiosa Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay and Falmouth Jamaica: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $55Montego Bay $142
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Live Folk Dance & DJ Experience: $27
- Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $29
- Bosphorus Night Cruise: Dinner, Drinks & Hotel Pickup: $29
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Show with Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Shows and Drinks: $30
- All Inclusive; Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Live Shows&Unlimited Drinks: $30
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 with Pickup from Montego Bay: $45
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Luminous Lagoon Sunset Cruise, Dinner & Glowing Waters Swim: $95
- Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
- Glistening Bioluminescent Waters and Dinner at Jerk hut: $105
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping & Local Food Tour-From Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios: $130
- The Local Lime- Montego Bay Dinner and/or Nightlife Tour: $149
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Dinner and Nightlife -From Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $37Montego Bay $31
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour Exploring Two Empires: $6.85
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Pera: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Balat&Asia: $8.00
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $8.00
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide: $8.01
- Bosphorus Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $9.90
- Istanbul Istiklal Street Story Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.99
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $9.99
- Sapanca and Masukiye Tour from Istanbul with Optional Activities: $10
- Kucuksu Pavilion Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Guide: $10
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$2.68
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $20
- Margaritaville Hip-Strip and Great River Rafting Private Tour: $20
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
- Montego Bay Shopping Private Tour: $26
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Pruvate Transter to Ocho Rios + Catamaran Cruise: $30
- Doctors Cave Beach Roundtrip Tour in Montego Bay: $30
- VR Experience in Montego Bay: $30
- Adventure and Activity Based Music and Nightlife and Nature: $30
- Luminous Lagoon Night Boat Tour in Jamaica: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $9.97Montego Bay $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $26
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Taksim Pera Wine Tasting 3 Hour Guided Tour: $130
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $205
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: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Istanbul much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul 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 Istanbul would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Istanbul 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 Istanbul.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Montego Bay?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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 Istanbul or Montego Bay?
Istanbul 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 Istanbul or Montego Bay in the Summer?
Both Montego Bay and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Istanbul is cooler than Montego Bay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Istanbul in July average around 24°C (74°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Montego Bay during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
Both Montego Bay and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In October, Istanbul is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 16°C (61°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Montego Bay. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Montego Bay in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Montego Bay. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Istanbul is much colder than Montego Bay in the winter. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Montego Bay. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Montego Bay in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Montego Bay. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
In the spring, Istanbul is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Istanbul in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Montego Bay. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 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.