Which place is cheaper, Columbia or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montego Bay and Columbia 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.
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.
Both the largest and capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is literally the center of everything. Geographically it is located in the middle of the state, and it is the home to the University of South Carolina, the Army's Fort Jackson, as well as a variety of museums that celebrate the city's art, history, and culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Columbia is $0.00. 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 Columbia in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Columbia? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
Prices for flights to both Columbia 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Columbia, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Columbia 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 Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia 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 Columbia.
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 Columbia Expensive?.
Columbia has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Columbia, 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.
Columbia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montego Bay experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Columbia and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Columbia in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Columbia in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Columbia fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Columbia. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Columbia and Montego Bay during the autumn 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, most visitors come to Columbia for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is much warmer than Columbia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Columbia averages at about 64°F (18°C).
In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Columbia. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Columbia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Columbia. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and Columbia fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Columbia during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Columbia. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Columbia. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Montego Bay is a little warmer than Columbia in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Columbia. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Montego Bay | Columbia | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |