Which place is cheaper, New York City 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 New York City?
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 New York City 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 New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesNew York City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $259New York City $363
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or New York City? 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 New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15New York City $49
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
- Zoëtry Resorts Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $20
- VIP Runaway Bay Transfer: $160
- VIP Private Airport Transfer Montego Bay: $20
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $74
- VIP Airport Transfer to Hotel in Montego Bay: $30
- Tryall / Round Hill Private Transfer: $40
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay APT-HTL (MBJ): $37
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Transfer from/to Airport, Riu Reggae, Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace: $28
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Runaway Bay: $172
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $64
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manhattan to LGA One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $25
- JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $28
- Shared transfer Newark Airport to Manhattan: $30
- Manhattan to Newark Airport: Shared Departure Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Manhattan to NYC Airports (JFK/EWR/LGA): $37
- Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR): $41
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Cape Cruise Port - Arrival Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from New York Airport (LGA) to Manhattan Port: $42
- J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Cape Cruise Port - Arrival Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $42
- NYC Airport Transfer From Newark (EWR) Airport to Manhattan: $44
- Private Arrival Transfer: NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR) to Brooklyn: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $142New York City $87
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 Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
- Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
- Glistening Bioluminescent Waters and Dinner at Jerk hut: $105
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
- The Local Lime- Montego Bay Dinner and/or Nightlife Tour: $149
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Greenwich Village Food Tour: $39
- NYC Haunted History and Ghost Tour with Pizza: $39
- New York Pizza and Rats Tour: $44
- Private Pizza Experience (5 tastings) in Manhattan: $45
- Bensonhurst Food Tour: $45
- Lower Manhattan's Ultimate Pizza Crawl experience (5 tastings): $46
- Brooklyn's must-try Pizza Crawl experience (5 top rated slices!): $46
- Central Park Cafe: Scenic Lunch & Dinner Experience in NYC: $50
- Lower East Side Food Tour: Iconic Eats & NYC History Walking Tour: $51
- Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour: Local Eats & Iconic Views: $59
- Homemade Pizza Party in NYC: $63
- New York City's Best Pizza tour - You be the judge!: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31New York City $180
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$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:
- 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 Experience: $60
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 4 Hour ATV & Horse Back Riding Private Tour (Transportation Only): $105
- 4-Hour Catamaran Party Cruise with Open Bar from Montego Bay: $200
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- 7 Mile Beach Private Tour: $122
- 7 Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe Private Tour: $80
- 7 Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe in Negril from Montego Bay Private Tour: $120
- 7 in 1 Day Jamaican Adventure with Jhadano Tours: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- New York's Hidden Gems: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.42
- NYC Central Park Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.43
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $4.56
- New York Ghost Tour: Self-Guided Haunted Walk: $4.56
- Central Park Stolen Archives: NY Exploration Game and Tour: $4.85
- New York Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.85
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.00
- Roosevelt Island: An Audio Tour by a Filmmaker: $5.00
- New York: Central Park Walking Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- The Battery: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Bowling Green Park to Stone St: $5.00
- A New York Date Night Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Self Guided Audio Tour of NYC Financial District: $5.00
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13New York City $29
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 New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- Brooklyn Distillery Tour: $22
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
- Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
- Wicked City Burlesque Show Admission: $33
- Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
- NYC Pub Crawl: Midtown/Times Square VIP Access & Prof Photos: $45
- Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Best of NYC Drag - Drag Bar Crawl with Drink: $49
- Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
- Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Montego Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and New York City 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 Montego Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montego Bay 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Montego Bay.
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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and New York City, 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 New York City?
New York City 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 New York City in the Summer?
Both New York City 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. Also, many travelers come to New York City for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or New York City in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, many visitors come to New York City in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Montego Bay is much warmer than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than New York City. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or New York City in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as New York City. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
New York City can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or New York City in the Spring?
Both New York City 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 New York City because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In April, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than New York City. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 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.