Which place is cheaper, Cocoa Beach or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach?
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 Cocoa Beach 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 Cocoa Beach?
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.
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach, Florida has long been a favorite vacation spot for travelers looking for sun, sand, and waves. The location was also made famous as the setting for the 1960's television show, "I Dream of Jeannie". The town of just over 11,000 is located in Brevard County along the Atlantic coast. Many people visit the area because of its excellent surfing. There are many surfing festivals and competitions held here yearly and the famous Ron Jon's surf shop receives about 2 million visitors a year. The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Cocoa Beach $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Cocoa Beach is $145. 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 Cocoa Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104Cocoa Beach $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Cocoa Beach $170
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Cocoa Beach
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach? 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 Cocoa Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Cocoa Beach $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Zoëtry Resorts Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $20
- Tryall / Round Hill - Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $107
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay APT-HTL (MBJ): $37
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Transfer from/to Airport, Riu Reggae, Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace: $17
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $55
- Tobys Resort Private Airport Transfer: $20
- The Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $50
- Sunset at the Palms Negril Airport Transfers: $53
- Sunset at the Palm Private Negril Airport Transfer : $52
- Sunscape Splash Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Sunscape Resorts Montego Bay Private Airport Transfers: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cocoa Beach
Also for Cocoa Beach, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral Hotel transfers : $47
- Private Transfer from Cocoa to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $277
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $279
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $293
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach?
Prices for flights to both Cocoa Beach 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 $84Cocoa Beach $43
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 with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
- Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting & Luminous Lagoon Sunset, Swim& Dinner: $280
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Walking Food Tour in Cocoa Beach: $79
- 3-Hour Indian River Queen Cruise with Dinner: $79
- Guided Walking Food Tour in Cocoa Beach: $79
- Village Food Tours Lunch & History Tour: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Cocoa Beach $16
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$2.74
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$44
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, and Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $173
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Pelican Bar Customize Tour: $120
- Bioluminescence Lagoon tour from Montego Bay with Pick Up: $105
- Blue Hole Adventure Tour : $120
- Catamaran Party Cruise and Snorkeling from Montego Bay: $220
- Dunns River & BlueHole Tour Includes Entry Fees: $289
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Green Grotto Cave Private Tour: $115
- Horseback Riding and Tour from Montego Bay : $230
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage River Tour: $110
- Montego Bay Jamaica Private Jet Ski And ATV experience: $120
Tours and Activities in Cocoa Beach
For Cocoa Beach, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Palm Bay by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- 1 Hour Historic Riverboat Shared Cruise in Cocoa City: $25
- Banana River Sunset Cruise w/ Dolphin Watching: $40
- Sunset Cruise on the Beautiful Banana River: $40
- Cocoa Beach Dolphin Tours on the Banana River: $40
- Thousand Islands Banana River Boat Cruise: $40
- Dolphin Tours along and near the beautiful Indian River Lagoon : $40
- Manatee and Dolphin Kayak Tour: $45
- Dolphin Tour with Local Expert: $45
- 2 hour Dolphin Sightseeing Tour in Melbourne Florida : $45
- Wildlife Refuge Dolphin, Manatee & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!: $48
- Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour!: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Cocoa Beach $20
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 Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $103
Sample the Local Flavors in Cocoa Beach
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cocoa Beach:
- Waterfront Happy Hour Bar Crawl: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Cocoa Beach, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Cocoa Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Cocoa Beach 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 Cocoa Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cocoa Beach 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 Cocoa Beach.
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 Cocoa Beach Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cocoa Beach. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Cocoa Beach, 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 Cocoa Beach?
Cocoa Beach 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 Cocoa Beach in the Summer?
Both Cocoa Beach and Montego Bay during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cocoa Beach for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Cocoa Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Cocoa Beach averages at about 81°F (27°C).
Cocoa Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than Cocoa Beach. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Cocoa Beach 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Cocoa Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cocoa Beach in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In October, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Cocoa Beach. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Cocoa Beach fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
Cocoa Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Cocoa Beach. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Cocoa Beach.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Cocoa Beach 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Cocoa Beach. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Cocoa Beach for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Montego Bay is a little warmer than Cocoa Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Cocoa Beach fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Cocoa Beach. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Cocoa Beach 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Cocoa Beach in the Spring?
Both Cocoa Beach and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Cocoa Beach because of the beaches.
In the spring, Montego Bay is a little warmer than Cocoa Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Cocoa Beach averages at about 73°F (23°C).
In April, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Cocoa Beach. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cocoa Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Cocoa Beach is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Cocoa Beach 73°F (23°C)
Typical Weather for Cocoa Beach and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Cocoa Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.9 inches (48 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.