Which place is cheaper, Monterey 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 Monterey?
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 Monterey 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 Monterey?
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.
Monterey
When it comes to California, Monterey may not be mentioned half as much as you hear about Los Angeles or San Francisco, but it is a beautiful city to visit, with a diverse expanse of exciting and relaxing things to do, whether you're looking for adventure, a quiet getaway, or romance.
Located on California's central coast, the city of Monterey was the first State Capital of California. It was also home to many artists, athletes, and musicians, such as John Steinbeck, Clint Eastwood, and Ron Johnson.
Monterey has mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Cold season runs from December to April and warm season, from July until October. The peak travel seasons are during summer, from July to September. If you want to avoid crowds, the months of April and October are ideal times to visit for fewer crowds and comfortable weather.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesMonterey Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $258Monterey $211
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $258, while the average daily cost in Monterey is $211. 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 Monterey in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Monterey $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Monterey $180
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Monterey
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Monterey? 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 Monterey Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Monterey $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Zoetry Montego Bay Airport Transfers MBJ (Private Roundtrip Exclusive): $180
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $74
- VIP Luxury Airport Transfer Mobay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Lucea,: $200
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay APT-HTL (MBJ): $37
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $64
- The Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $50
- Sunscape Splash Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Sports bar Day or Nightlife Experience with Private Transfer: $70
- Shared Shuttle Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $30
- Secrets and Breathless Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Secrets Wild Orchid Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Secrets St. James Private Airport Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Monterey?
Prices for flights to both Monterey 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 $142Monterey $98
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $85
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $117
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $135
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $231
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Monterey $27
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:
- “ATV Adventure & Rick’s Café Experience from Montego Bay: $123
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 2 Days Of Blue Hole, Dunns River Falls & Hidden Beauty Adventure: $180
- 2 Days Private Jamaica Tour: $230
- 27/27 Lounge, Pier 1 & Margaritaville Nightlife Tour In Jamaica: $72
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $58
- 4 Hour ATV & Horse Back Riding Private Tour (Transportation Only): $105
- 4 Hours Private Night Life Experience in Montego Bay: $66
- 5 Hour Private Tour at Negril Beach and Rick's Cafe: $150
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- 7 Mile Beach Private Tour: $122
Tours and Activities in Monterey
For Monterey, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Treasure Hunt The Ride - Ticket + Power-Up Combo: $23
- Mist, Mayhem & Murder: Monterey Ghost Tours: $24
- 17-Mile Drive Self-Guided GPS E-Bike Tour: $59
- Monterey Bay Dolphin and Whale Watching Boat Tour: $62
- Cannery Row Kayak Tour: $65
- Catamaran Sailing Cruise: $65
- Whale Watching Tour with A Marine Guide: $70
- Whale Watching Cruise: $72
- Monterey Bay: Whale Watching Tour: $75
- 17-Mile Drive Pebble Beach E-Bike Tour: $75
- 17-Mile Drive Guided E-Bike Tour: $79
- "Family Friendly" Scenic E-Bike Tour along 17 Mile Dr: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Monterey $21
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 Monterey
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Monterey:
- Carmel Valley Wine Tasting Tour: $217
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Monterey, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Monterey much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Monterey is in North 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 Monterey would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Monterey 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 Monterey.
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 Monterey Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Monterey?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Monterey. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Monterey, 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 Monterey?
Monterey has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montego Bay experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Montego Bay or Monterey in the Summer?
Both Monterey and Montego Bay during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Monterey for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Montego Bay is much warmer than Monterey. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Monterey averages at about 63°F (17°C).
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in July than Monterey. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Monterey 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Monterey in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Monterey. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Monterey in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In October, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Monterey. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Monterey fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).
Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Monterey. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Monterey 62°F (17°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Monterey in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Monterey. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Monterey for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Monterey in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Monterey fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Monterey. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Monterey 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Monterey in the Spring?
Both Monterey and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Monterey because of the beaches.
In the spring, Montego Bay is much warmer than Monterey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Monterey averages at about 56°F (13°C).
In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Monterey. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Monterey receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Monterey 56°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Monterey and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Monterey | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8 inches (47 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.1 inches (55 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.1 inches (29 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (4 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.6 inches (14 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
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.