Which place is cheaper, Medellin 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 Medellin?
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 Medellin 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 Medellin?
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.
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesMedellin Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $258Medellin $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $258, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $36. 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 Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $101Medellin $5.72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $202Medellin $11
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Medellin
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Medellin? 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 Medellin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Medellin $4.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $45
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to Grand & Luxury Bahia Principe: $80
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to RIU PALACE AQUARELLE: $50
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14
- Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns: $260
- Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $30
- Airport Round Trip Transfer To Hotels in Montego Bay: $19
- Airport Round transfer Excellence,Coral Springs,Paladium, Royaltan Blue Waters: $110
- Airport Transfer From Kingston: $200
- Airport Transfer To Dreams Rose Hall: $60
- Airport Transfer To Grand Bahia Principe Hotel: $120
- Airport Transfer To Iberostar Hotel: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Medellin to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Medellín Private Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $34
- Private Airport Transfer: $35
- Medellín: José María Córdova Airport Private Transfer: $36
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Private Airport Transfer in Medellín: Arrival Service: $43
- Medellín Airport Private Transfer Service (Departure): $43
- Medellín Private Transfer from Olaya Herrera (EOH) Airport to Medellín City: $46
- Pereira to or from Salento Private Transfer: $47
- Private Airport Transfer: $48
- Night-time Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Medellin?
Prices for flights to both Medellin 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 $141Medellin $20
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 with Pickup from Montego Bay: $45
- Montego Bay City and Food Tour All Inclusive Experience: $48
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Luminous Lagoon Sunset Cruise, Dinner & Glowing Waters Swim: $95
- Bar Hopping & Local Food Tour-From Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios: $130
- The Local Lime- Montego Bay Dinner and/or Nightlife Tour: $149
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Dinner and Nightlife -From Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$2.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Medellín: Comuna 13 True Story and Street Food Tour: $14
- 4hr Cooking Class in Medellín with Traditional Recipes and Drinks: $29
- Medellin El Poblado Street Food Tour: $34
- Empanada Cooking Class with Local Chef - Comuna 13: $34
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Street Art and Street Food Tour: $44
- Laureles Food Tour: $45
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $48
- Medellin Food Tour in Laureles: $54
- Medellin Private Nighttime City Sightseeing Tour by E-Bike + Gourmet Dinner: $59
- Medellín: Street Food Tour with Local Tastings: $62
- Medellín: Empanada-Making Small-Group Cooking Class: $63
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Medellin $15
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$2.67
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$37
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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:
- Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $20
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Carnival Cruise Ship in Montego Bay to Great River & Hip strip: $20
- Blue Hole Adventure and Shopping Experience with Transportation: $20
- Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
- Montego Bay Nightlife Tour with Private Transportation: $25
- Montego Bay Shopping Private Tour: $26
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Doctors Cave Beach Roundtrip Tour in Montego Bay: $30
- VR Experience in Montego Bay: $30
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Fly over Medellín Metrocable: Transformation Tour: $10
- Medellín: Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $12
- Entry Ticket to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellin: $12
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour with Snacks and a Local Guide: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Local History Tour with Graffiti & Snack: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour With Local Snacks Included: $13
- Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour| Local Guide & Historia & Street Food: $14
- Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
- Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with a Local & Artisan Ice Cream ⭐: $14
- Full Comuna 13 Tour: Graffiti, History and the Famous Comuna 13 Ice Cream: $14
- Medellin Historic Walking Tour: $15
- Medellin Commune 13 Historic Tour With Snacks and Drinks: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Medellin $8.68
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: $250
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Medellin Pub Crawl: $20
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $24
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $25
- Medellín Pub Crawl in Poblado with 5 Drinks and Bilingual Hosts: $29
- VIP Pub Crawl & Nightclubs in Provenza: $30
- Medellín: Pub crawl in Provenza, music, dancing, and shots: $30
- Medellin Private Bar Crawl with private transportation: $138
- Night Out Gay Bar Crawl in Medellin: $150
- Medellin Pub Crawl with transport Including Food and City Tour: $166
- Medellín: San Francisco Wine Tour with Tastings & Lunch: $332
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Medellin, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Medellin 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 Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Medellin.
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 Medellin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Medellin?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Medellin, 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.
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.