Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Montanita?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Montanita, 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: Kingston or Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Kingston and Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Kingston or Montanita? 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: Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Montanita $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita and Kingston 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 dayKingston $27Montanita $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Montanita $31
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages: $174
- 4x4 Jeep Safari & Blue Hole Adventure from Ocho Rios: $158
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Runaway Bay: $142
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Montanita $7.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
When comparing the travel costs between Kingston and Montanita, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and Montanita is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kingston or Montanita?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Kingston or Montanita in the Summer?
Both Montanita and Kingston during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.
Kingston usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the summer, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.
Kingston is a little warmer than Montanita in the summer. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Montanita in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kingston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kingston usually receives more rain than Montanita. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Kingston is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kingston in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Montanita averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Montanita in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Montanita. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Kingston usually gets less rain in January than Montanita. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In the winter, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.
In January, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (79°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Montanita in the Spring?
Both Montanita and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Kingston usually receives less rain than Montanita. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Montanita in the spring. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and Kingston
| Kingston | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.