A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montego Bay vs. Boulder for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montego Bay or Boulder?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montego Bay and Boulder can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Montego Bay or Boulder?

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.

Boulder

Boulder is located on the edge of the Rocky Mountains in the state of Colorado. As home to the University of Colorado at Boulder, it's a college town with a liberal vibe and progressive values. In recent years, Boulder's economy has received a boost from the tech industry, which has grown rapidly in the area.

Boulder is also a great city to visit. It's surrounded by a beautiful mountain setting and there are countless outdoor sporting activities that you can enjoy. One unique aspect of Boulder is its role as home to many serious athletes who come here to train in the area's top facilities and programs.

Boulder's climate is similar to most of Colorado. It's a dry city with plenty of sunshine. Winters can vary dramatically from mild to incredibly cold and snowfall averages 44 inches a season. Summers are warm and dry with temperatures climbing above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the warmest months.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Boulder or Montego Bay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Montego Bay Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Boulder Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Montego Bay $258
    Boulder $231

The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $258, while the average daily cost in Boulder is $231. 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 Montego Bay and Boulder in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montego Bay $102
    Boulder $102
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montego Bay $204
    Boulder $204
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Boulder

Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Boulder? 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 Montego Bay


Hotels in Boulder


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: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and Boulder Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montego Bay $15
    Boulder $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • Chevy Suburban Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $300
  • Private Airport OneWay Transfer to Hotel in Montego Bay: $300
  • Jet Car Adventure in Montego Bay Daytrip with Transfers: $300
  • Club Night Life Round-Trip Private Transfer in Montego Bay: $300
  • Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Negril Hotels: $270
  • Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport To Ocho Rios: $267
  • Blue Hole & Horseback Riding Tour with Transfers from Montego Bay: $265
  • Explore Montego Bay Jamaica Luxury Round TTransfer in Montego Bay: $253
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $245
  • MBJ Airport to Strawberry Hill Hotel & Spa Transfer: $243
  • VIP Luxury Airport Transfer Mobay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Lucea,: $200
  • Luxury Suburban Private Airport Transfer with Chauffeur: $200

Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Boulder?

Prices for flights to both Boulder and Montego Bay 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
    Montego Bay $142
    Boulder $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.

  • Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
  • Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
  • Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $85
  • Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $117
  • 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
  • Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $135
  • Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
  • Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
  • Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
  • Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
  • Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $231

Typical Food Prices in Boulder

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Boulder:


  • 2 Coffees
    $8.75
  • Nice Dinner for Two
    $71

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montego Bay $31
    Boulder $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:


  • Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach
    $2.67
  • Snorkeling Trip
    $19
  • One Tank Dive
    $37
  • 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:

  • “ATV Adventure & Rick’s Café Experience from Montego Bay: $123
  • 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
  • 2 Days Of Blue Hole, Dunns River Falls & Hidden Beauty Adventure: $180
  • 2 Days Private Jamaica Tour: $230
  • 27/27 Lounge, Pier 1 & Margaritaville Nightlife Tour In Jamaica: $72
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
  • 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $58
  • 4 Hour ATV & Horse Back Riding Private Tour (Transportation Only): $105
  • 4 Hours Private Night Life Experience in Montego Bay: $66
  • 5 Hour Private Tour at Negril Beach and Rick's Cafe: $150
  • 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
  • 7 Mile Beach Private Tour: $122

Tours and Activities in Boulder

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

  • Downtown Boulder Smartphone Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Boulder CO: $15
  • University of Colorado Boulder Campus Adventure: $15
  • Bones, Burials, & Ballads: Boulder Ghost Tours: $24
  • Boulder Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
  • Boulder Puzzling Adventure Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity: $35
  • Guided Astronomy Tour: $52
  • From Las Vegas: Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon Combo Tour: $70
  • Boulder Flatirons Private Photo Adventure: $85
  • The Boulder Joyride eBike Tour: $95
  • Boulder Joyride Guided eBike Tour: $99
  • E-Bike Guided Tour in Boulder, Colorado: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montego Bay $13
    Boulder $27

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: $231
  • Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255

Sample the Local Flavors in Boulder

Also in Boulder, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Amazing Bar Crawl in Boulder: $15


When comparing the travel costs between Montego Bay and Boulder, we can see that Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Boulder is in North 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 Montego Bay Expensive? and Is Boulder Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Boulder?

Boulder has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Boulder, 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.