Which place is cheaper, Kingston 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 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.
Where Should I go: Montego Bay or Kingston?
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.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesKingston Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $259Kingston $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $125. 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 Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Kingston $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Kingston $126
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Kingston? 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 Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Kingston $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Airport Transfer To Hotels In Montego Bay (Round-trip): $65
- Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $85
- Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels (Round-trip) : $115
- Airport Transfer To S Hotel (Round-trip): $35
- Airport Transfers to Iberostar Hotel (Round-trip): $53
- MBJ Airport Private Round Trip Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay Area: $27
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Areas Private Luxury Transfer: $179
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $20
- Round-Trip Transfer Airport transfer to Grand Palladium Resort & Spa: $87
- Shared Airport Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $55
- Sports bar Day or Nightlife Experience with Private Transfer : $70
- VIP Airport Transfer-RIU Palace, Reggae,Montego bay : $140
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $19
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $24
- From Ocho Rios: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $29
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $43
- From Montego Bay: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $44
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Private Airport Transfer of Norman Manley and Kingston Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from Kingston's Airport: $65
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69
- Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
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
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Food Meals for one dayMontego Bay $142Kingston $45
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
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $45
- 4 Hour Exclusive Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
- Private Jamaican Food Tour with City Highlights: $140
- Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144
- Cooking Class in Montego Bay with Home Chef: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer : $150
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
- Luxury Dinner On The Farm: $250
- Montego Bay, Negril, Falmouth, Ocho Rios Dinner an Nightlife Tour: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Kingston $12
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:
- Montego Bay Cruise Ship Port Group Transportation Service: $18
- Montego Bay City highlight And Souvenir Shopping Group Tour: $20
- Souvenirs and Gift shopping Tour in Montego Bay: $20
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Jet ski tour from montegobay: $28
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay : $30
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley 9 Mile Tour Admission: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- JAMAICA SPECIAL: Rum Tour Safari Pelican Bar BoatParty Rick'sCafe: $35
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
- Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- White River Tubing and Ocho Rios Private Tour with Hotel pickup: $55
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
- Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
- Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
- Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
- Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $85
- Port Royal Heritage Tour from Kingston: $90
- Story of Jamaican Music Tour including Entry Fees: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Kingston $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:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
- Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
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.
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 Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Kingston, 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 Kingston?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Montego Bay or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Kingston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Kingston. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston 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 Kingston during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Kingston averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Kingston. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in October than Kingston. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.
In October, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Kingston. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston 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. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Kingston. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Kingston in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than Kingston. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kingston, 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 Kingston. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.