Which place is cheaper, Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill?
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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill?
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.
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill is a college town in North Carolina that, together with Raleigh and Durham, makes up the Research Triangle area. The town is 28 miles northwest of Raleigh and 12 miles southwest of Durham. Chapel Hill dates back to 1819 when it was founded to support the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a population of just over 52,000, Chapel Hill has the vibe of a small college town with the amenities of a larger community. It's proximity to both Raleigh and Durham give it an economic boost that provides economic diversity and security.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesChapel Hill Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $259Chapel Hill $200
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in Chapel Hill is $200. 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 Chapel Hill in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Chapel Hill $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Chapel Hill $190
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Chapel Hill
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Chapel Hill? 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 Chapel Hill Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Chapel Hill $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $45
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14
- Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Private Transfer: $97
- Airport (MBJ) Round Trip Transfer in Montego Bay: $60
- Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfers, to Montego Bay Airbnb & Resorts: $53
- Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $30
- Airport Transfer: $80
- Airport Transfer From Kingston: $200
- Airport Transfer MBJ Montego Bay to Kingston: $150
- Airport Transfer Montego Bay Hotels: $120
- Airport Transfer Riu Montego / Reggae / Palace: $40
- Airport Transfer Negril Hotels: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Chapel Hill?
Prices for flights to both Chapel Hill 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 $142Chapel Hill $84
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
- 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
- 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
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Authentic Jamaican Cooking Experience in the Mountain from mobay: $210
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Chapel Hill $17
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:
- Blue Hole Adventure and Shopping Experience with Transportation: $20
- Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $20
- Jamaica Bamboo Rafting Experience with Lime Stone Massage: $20
- Margaritaville Hip-Strip and Great River Rafting Private Tour: $20
- Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour: Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
- VR Experience in Montego Bay: $30
- Rose Hall Great House and Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Adventure and Activity Based Music and Nightlife and Nature: $30
Tours and Activities in Chapel Hill
Here are a few actual costs in Chapel Hill for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Greensboro African American History Walking Tour: $19
- Fayetteville African American History Tour: $19
- Carolina History & Haunts Greensboro Historical Ghost Tour: $26
- Sunrise Paddleboarding Adventure in New Bern: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Chapel Hill $40
Sample the Local Flavors in Chapel Hill
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chapel Hill:
- Distillery Tour Farm to Bottle Whiskey Experience: $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Chapel Hill, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Chapel Hill much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Chapel Hill is in North America, 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 Chapel Hill would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill.
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 Chapel Hill Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Chapel Hill?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 74% larger than the population of Chapel Hill. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Chapel Hill, 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 Montego Bay or Chapel Hill?
Chapel Hill 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 Montego Bay or Chapel Hill in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Chapel Hill. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Chapel Hill in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Chapel Hill. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Chapel Hill averages at about 79°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chapel Hill this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chapel Hill during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Chapel Hill receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.
Chapel Hill receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Chapel Hill. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Chapel Hill 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Chapel Hill in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Chapel Hill. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Chapel Hill for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Chapel Hill. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Chapel Hill. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chapel Hill receives 211 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Chapel Hill. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Chapel Hill 61°F (16°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Chapel Hill in the Winter?
Both Chapel Hill and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Chapel Hill can be very cold. Montego Bay is much warmer than Chapel Hill in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Chapel Hill during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Chapel Hill receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Chapel Hill. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Chapel Hill 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Chapel Hill in the Spring?
Both Chapel Hill and Montego Bay during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Montego Bay is much warmer than Chapel Hill. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Chapel Hill averages at about 60°F (16°C).
In Chapel Hill, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Chapel Hill. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chapel Hill receives 251 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Chapel Hill. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Chapel Hill 60°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Chapel Hill and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Chapel Hill | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.9 inches (125 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 53°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
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.