A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. Freeport for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or Freeport?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville or Freeport? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or Freeport?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

Freeport

When you picture the Bahamas you likely picture the beaches, resorts and playgrounds of Nassau. Just to the northwest of this tourist paradise is a tropical city founded on industry. Freeport began as mostly swampland and is now the second most populous city in the Bahamas.

This city is less of a tourist attraction - a place where you'll find the true Bahaman culture mixed in with some relaxing spots to help you unwind and get into your island vacation.

Which place is cheaper, Freeport or Mandeville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Freeport is $244. 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 Mandeville and Freeport in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    Freeport $141
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    Freeport $282
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Freeport

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Freeport? 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.

Hotels in Mandeville


Hotels in Freeport


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: Freeport Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    Freeport $59

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Freeport

Also for Freeport, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Round Trip Limousine Transfer to the Port Lucaya Market: $150
  • Roundtrip Airport Transfers Grand Lucayan Resort Freeport: $30
  • Round-trip Airport Transfers to Castaway Resorts, Freeport: $30
  • Round-Trip Airport Transfer Viva Club Fortuna Freeport: $30
  • Round-Trip Airport Transfer Between Freeport Airport and Pelican Bay Resort : $30
  • Private Transfer from Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport Port: $29
  • Private Transfer from Freeport Port to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO): $29
  • Private Transfer from FPO to Old Bahama Bay resort : $233
  • Private Transfer from FPO to Freeport hotels or resorts: $167
  • Private Round Trip Transfer from Freeport Airport to Hotel: $133
  • Old Bahama Bay to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) - Private Transfer: $193
  • Grand Bahama Airport: One-Way Transfer to Freeport Hotels: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Freeport?

Prices for flights to both Freeport and Mandeville 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mandeville $24
    Freeport $64

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Freeport

For Freeport, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Around Town/Bahamian Cooking Experience: $175

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    Freeport $40

Typical Entertainment Prices in Freeport

For Freeport, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 10 Dive Package
    $300
  • 4 Hr. Kayak Tour
    $70
  • 1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
    $75

Tours and Activities in Freeport

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Freeport.

  • 4 Hour Private Sandy Cay Experience with Snorkeling - Adults Only: $275
  • Bahamas Sea Scooter Snorkeling Adventure: $120
  • Clear Kayak Tour: $120
  • CocoNutz Cruisers Electric Bicycle Tour: $123
  • East End Private Day Trip Experience Tour : $200
  • Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $81
  • Grand Bahama Agricultural Family Farm Tour: $120
  • Mamma Gal East End Native Experience : $85
  • Mamma Gal Native Experience : $70
  • Rumbo Tour : $90
  • Snorkel/Swim with the Turtles Experience: $250
  • Tour of Coral Vita and breach brak at Banana bay beach club: $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    Freeport $30

Sample the Local Flavors in Freeport

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Freeport:

  • Brewery & Taste with Beach & Shop at Largest Market on Freeport 4-hrs : $75


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Freeport, we can see that Freeport is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Freeport would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Freeport than you might in Mandeville.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is Freeport Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Freeport?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Freeport. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Freeport, 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.