Which place is cheaper, Cabarete 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.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Cabarete?
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 Cabarete 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 Cabarete?
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.
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesCabarete Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $259Cabarete $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in Cabarete is $182. 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 Cabarete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Cabarete $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Cabarete $150
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Cabarete
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Cabarete? 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: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and Cabarete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Cabarete $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- luxury VIP Airport Transfer to RIU Palace, Reggae,Montego bay: $140
- VIP Runaway Bay Transfer: $160
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $74
- VIP Luxury Airport Transfer Mobay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Lucea,: $150
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay HTL-APT (MBJ): $37
- Transfers from Montego Bay Airport to Negril: $53
- Transfer from/to Airport, Riu Reggae, Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace: $28
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Runaway Bay: $172
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $64
- Sunset at the Palm Private Negril Airport Transfer: $52
- Sunscape Resorts Montego Bay Private Airport Transfers: $25
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $9.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
- Transfer privado from cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport: $49
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Cabarete?
Prices for flights to both Cabarete 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
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Food Meals for one dayMontego Bay $142Cabarete $73
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 Dining Experience in Montego Bay: $40
- Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $50
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $85
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $117
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $135
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Authentic Jamaican Cooking Experience in the Mountain from mobay: $210
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $210
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $231
- Glistening Waters, ATV ride in countryside and Dinner at Jerk hut: $250
- Private Martha Brae Raft and Luminous Lagoon Tour with Dinner: $270
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Cabarete $54
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$38
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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:
- 1 Hour Efoil Experience in Montego Bay: $150
- 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
- 2 Hour Private Montego Bay City Tour with Souvenir’s Shopping: $80
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 4 Hour ATV & Horse Back Riding Private Tour (Transportation Only): $105
- 4 Hours Party Boat Catamaran Cruise in Negril: $190
- 4 Hours Private Night Life Experience in Montego Bay: $66
- 4-Hour Catamaran Party Cruise with Open Bar from Montego Bay: $200
- 5 Hour Private Tour at Doctor's Cave Beach and Margaritaville: $108
- 5 Hour Private Tour at Negril Beach and Rick's Cafe: $150
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $45
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure from Puerto Plata: $77
- 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $80
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Jamao al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $80
- VIP All-Inclusive City Tour: Luxury Beach Experience: $85
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $117
- Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Cabarete $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Cabarete, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Cabarete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cabarete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cabarete 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 Cabarete.
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 Cabarete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Cabarete?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Cabarete, 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.
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.