Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna?
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 La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna?
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.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $260La Fortuna $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $260, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $136. 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 La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102La Fortuna $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204La Fortuna $112
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or La Fortuna? 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 La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15La Fortuna $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Airport Transfer to Montego Bay area Hotels & Airbnb-Private: $10
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril *Air Conditioning: $10
- Breathless Resort Exclusive Private Airport Transfer: $10
- Sangster International Airport Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $10
- S Hotel Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $12
- Private Airport transfer Montego Bay: $12
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer: RIU Mobay, RIU Reggae & RIU Palace: $13
- Sandals Royal Caribbean Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Montego Bay or Falmouth: $14
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to S Hotel, SeaGarden, Royal Decameron: $14
- Riu reggae, palace & montego Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $43
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $166
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7to10: $180
- Private One Way Transfer from Arenal, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio: $195
- Transfer International ATO to Fortuna or return one way: $200
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer: $208
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santamaria Airport area: $220
- SJO Airport Transfer for 6 people to La Fortuna|Arenal Volcano: $220
- Private Transfer Fortuna to SJO Airport from 1 to 6 passengers: $220
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna 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 $142La Fortuna $52
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
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $130
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $210
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $60
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican family: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy: $90
- Rainforest Night Walk in La Fortuna with Authentic Dinner: $92
- Fresh From the Farm: Cooking Class at the Volcano: $105
- Rio Celeste & Hot Springs Dinner Experience: $130
- Arenal Volcano Hike plus Baldi Hot Springs and Dinner: $140
- Arenal Hanging Bridges with Hotsprings, Lunch and Dinner: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32La Fortuna $48
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$2.69
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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:
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
- Souvenirs and Gift shopping Tour in Montego Bay: $20
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
- Montego Bay Cruise Ship Port to Doctor's Cave Beach and City Tour: $29
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
- Half-Day Private Guided Ricks Café & Negril Seven Mile Beach Tour: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Day Tour: $40
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Limestone Massage and Hip Strip Tour In Jamaica: $40
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Arenal Volcano - Ecological Park Entrance Ticket: $17
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua: $25
- Arenal Park Self-Guided Experience: $27
- Tour of sloths, exotic birds, frogs.: $30
- Sloths and Monkeys Guided Tour in Arenal Nature Walk: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $32
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour from La Fortuna: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13La Fortuna $12
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: $231
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and La Fortuna, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and La Fortuna is in Central 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna.
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 La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or La Fortuna?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and La Fortuna, 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 La Fortuna?
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 La Fortuna in the Summer?
Both La Fortuna 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. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than La Fortuna. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than La Fortuna during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)La Fortuna 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or La Fortuna in the Autumn?
Both La Fortuna 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
December to April is the dry season in La Fortuna. Also, the hurricane season in La Fortuna is May to November. La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than La Fortuna. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or La Fortuna in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than La Fortuna. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than La Fortuna during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay is generally cooler than La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)La Fortuna 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or La Fortuna in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as La Fortuna. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
Also, December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than La Fortuna. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. 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 La Fortuna. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay is cooler than La Fortuna in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)La Fortuna 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for La Fortuna and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | La Fortuna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.