Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or El Chalten?
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 El Chalten 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 El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or El Chalten? 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 El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15El Chalten $2.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Transfer : $10
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer : $10
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Transfer Sangster International Airport to Montego Bay: $12
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Airport Transfer to Sandals Montego : $13
- MBJ Airport: Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Hyatt Ziva & Zilara to Jewel Grande: $14
- Relaxing Airport To Resort In Montego Bay Transfer: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Breathless/ to Secrets Resort: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Half Moon - Holiday Inn - Zoetry: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $84El Chalten $3.66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Private Transportation to DINNER or NIGHT CLUBS: $55
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- Private Sea-Food Tour & Floyds Pelican Bar from Montego Bay or ..: $185
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32El Chalten $2.66
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:
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour of Montego Bay City: $39
- Shopping and Sightseeing Local Guided Tour In Montego Bay: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $40
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13El Chalten $1.22
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: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and El Chalten, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and El Chalten is in South 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
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 El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montego Bay or El Chalten?
El Chalten 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 El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten 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.
In July, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin January. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten 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.
Montego Bay is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In the winter, Montego Bay is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin July. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as El Chalten. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
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.