A Travel Price Comparison for Jamaica Montego Bay vs. Kingston for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Montego Bay or Kingston?

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 Kingston 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.

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.

Kingston

Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.

Which city is cheaper, Kingston or Montego Bay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $167, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $89. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Montego Bay and Kingston in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montego Bay $86
    Kingston $53
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montego Bay $172
    Kingston $106

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montego Bay $12
    Kingston $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • (Roundtrip) Private Airport Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay: $41
  • 24 Hour Airport Transfer (Select your destination/hotel): $42
  • Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Private Transfer: $95
  • Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns: $260
  • Airport Montego Bay To Montego Bay Hotels Shared Transfers: $8.00
  • Airport Montego Bay To Negril Hotels Shared Transfers: $19
  • Airport Montego Bay to RoseHall Hotels Shared Transfers: $9.34
  • Airport Private Transfers from Montego Bay to Hilton Rose Hall: $21
  • Airport Round Trip Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $43
  • Airport Round Trip Transfer in Montego Bay: $37
  • Airport Round Trip Transfer to Negril: $107
  • Airport Transfer: $54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • Private Airport Transfer: Kingston to Norman Manley International Airport (KIN): $32
  • Private Airport Transfer: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) to Kingston: $32
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
  • Hotel/Airport Transfers in Kingston Round Trip: $43
  • Hotel/Airport Transfers in Kingston (One Way): $50
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
  • Kingston to Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • Private Kingston Airport Transfers: $69
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Jamaica Kingston Airport to Kingston City: $70
  • Private Departure Transfer from Jamaica Kingston to Kingston Airports: $70
  • Private Departure Transfer from Kingston City Center to Kingston Harbour: $77
  • Airport Transfers in Kingston Only. Round Trip: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Kingston?

Prices for flights to both Kingston 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Montego Bay $69
    Kingston $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.

  • Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
  • Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kingston

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kingston.

  • Jamaican Food Tour of Kingston: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montego Bay $26
    Kingston $10
Typical Entertainment prices in Montego Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:


  • Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach
    $2.81
  • Snorkeling Trip
    $20
  • One Tank Dive
    $39
  • 1.5 Hr Horseback Ride
    $45

Tours and Activities in Montego Bay

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:

  • Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $10
  • Montego Bay Half-Day Shopping Tour: $10
  • Montego Bay Walking Tour: $18
  • Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
  • Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $21
  • Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour (HipStrip): $22
  • ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS: $25
  • City Tour and Shopping in Montego Bay: $26
  • The AMAZING Montego Bay Tour: $34
  • Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
  • Day Tour to Dunn's River Falls and Park with Pick Up: $35
  • Rose Hall Great House Private Day Tour: $36

Tours and Activities in Kingston

Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Kingston Night Market Experience from Kingston: $26
  • Trench Town: Birthplace of Reggae Tour: $32
  • Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Kingston: $34
  • Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
  • Bob Marley Museum and Tuff Gong Studio Combo Entrance Ticket: $50
  • Kingston Bike Tours: $52
  • Cultural Walking Tour of Kingston: $65
  • Experience Jamaica like a Jamaican: $70
  • Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
  • The Best Farm Experience Ever: $74
  • Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81
  • Jamaican Music History Tour of Kingston: $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montego Bay $11
    Kingston $9.11

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:

  • Hampden Rum Distillery / Montego Bay Highlight Tour & 876 Beach Club: $82
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
  • Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Kingston, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Kingston much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kingston would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kingston 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 Kingston.

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Montego Bay vs. Kingston Travel Comparison

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