Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Koh Pha Ngan $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Montego Bay Private Transfer with Airport Pickup and Dropoff : $20
- Shared Airport Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $55
- Airport Transfer Service In Montego bay: $95
- Brown Boss Private Airport Transfers: $20
- Club Mobay VIP Lounge Access and Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $113
- Eden Bay Private Airport Transfer: $50
- Excellence Oyster Bay Private Transfer: $40
- Excellence Resort Private Airport Transfer: $40
- Experience Jamaica Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $100
- Experience private Airport Transfer to Falmouth: $50
- From Kingston One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $44
- Grand Palladium Resort Private Transfer: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $139Koh Pha Ngan $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Koh Pha Ngan $19
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$2.63
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Snorkeling Trip$18
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Luminous Lagoon Admission Tickets: $40
- Jet Car Experience/ clear kayak photo shoot in Montego Bay: $40
- Jamaica Bamboo Rafting Experience with Lime Stone Massage: $50
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- Montego Bay Sight Seeing with Tour Guide : $50
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $54
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure with Limestone Massage from Montego Bay: $55
- Montego Bay & Falmouth Hotels, Souvenir Shopping and sightseeing: $60
- Private Tour in Dunns River Falls: $60
- Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
- Private Montego Bay Customized Tour with Pickup and Guide: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Koh Pha Ngan $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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia, 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 Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
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 Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Koh Pha Ngan?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Montego Bay is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.