Which place is cheaper, Oahu 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 Oahu?
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 Oahu 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 Oahu?
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.
Oahu
Hawaii is the epitome of paradise, and at the heart of paradise is the island of O'ahu (or Oahu). While it's only the third largest of the Hawaiian islands, O'ahu, or "the gathering place," is the most populous in the state with approximately 976,000 people calling O'ahu home, many of which live in the capital city of Honolulu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesOahu Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $259Oahu $371
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in Oahu is $371. 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 Oahu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Oahu $237
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Oahu $474
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Oahu
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Oahu? 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 Oahu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Oahu $21
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oahu
Also for Oahu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Honolulu / Waikiki hotels to Honolulu Port: $21
- Private Transfer from Honolulu Port to Honolulu Airport (HNL): $21
- Explore Waikiki: Self Guided tour from Ko Olina with transfers: $42
- Honolulu / Waikiki to Honolulu Airport (HNL) - Departure Transfer: $50
- Departure Transfer: Airport Shuttle From Ko'olina To Honolulu Airport: $53
- Private Waikiki Hotel Transfer Service to Airport: $55
- Private Transfer from Waikiki to Honolulu (HLN) Airport: $92
- Honolulu Harbor Cruise Terminal Transfer: $105
- Private Transfer from Honolulu (HNL) Airport to Wakiki Beach: $105
- Manoa Falls Waterfall Hike with Lunch and Transfers: $119
- Ko Olina resorts and Kapolei hotels Private Transfer(1-10pax): $120
- Private Transfer: Waikiki to Honolulu Airport HNL by Sedan: $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Oahu?
Prices for flights to both Oahu 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 $142Oahu $91
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oahu
For Oahu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Honolulu Food Tour with 5 Local Favorites Tastings: $107
- Ka Moana Luau Dinner and Show at Aloha Tower: $135
- Honolulu: Pacific Star Sunset Dinner Cruise and Show: $139
- Honolulu: Off The Beaten Path Food Tour: $150
- Honolulu's Walking Food Tour: $159
- Friday Fireworks Dinner Sail from the Hilton Hawaiian Village: $170
- Chief's Luau Dinner Show: $182
- Honolulu: Three Star Deluxe Sunset Dinner Cruise and Show: $193
- Nova Five Star Sunset Dinner and Jazz: $236
- Private Off-Road Sunset Dinner: $257
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Oahu $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$2.68
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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
Tours and Activities in Oahu
For Oahu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Legends of Waikiki Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Honolulu: $6.99
- Explore the USS Arizona Today Virtual Reality Experience: $7.00
- Official Pearl Harbor Chief's Self-Guided Multimedia Tour: $10
- Official Pearl Harbor Chief's Self-Guided Multimedia Tour: $10
- Official Diamond Head Self-Guided Narrated Hiking Tour: $11
- Official Pearl Harbor Captain's Self-Guided Multimedia Tour: $14
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour of Waikiki: $15
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour in Honolulu: $15
- Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Best of Oahu Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Oahu Hawaii: $20
- East Oahu Shoreline Self Guided Audio Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Oahu $6.47
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 Oahu
Also in Oahu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Koʻolau Distillery Whiskey Tour in Kailua, Hawai'i: $25
- Winery Oeno Island Style Wine Tasting: $39
- Hawaiian Style Paint Party at Koʻolau Distillery, Paint & Sip: $55
- Twilight Wine Tasting by Sea and Sunset Cruise in Honolulu: $119
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Oahu, we can see that Oahu 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 Oahu 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 Oahu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oahu 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 Oahu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montego Bay or Oahu?
Oahu 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 Oahu in the Summer?
Both Oahu 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, the summer months attract visitors to Oahu because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Oahu in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Oahu fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
In Oahu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Oahu. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oahu receives 303 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in July than Oahu. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Oahu 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Oahu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Oahu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Oahu this time of year.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Oahu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Oahu averages at about 80°F (26°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Oahu this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Oahu during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Oahu receives 246 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Oahu. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Oahu 80°F (26°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Oahu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Oahu. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Oahu for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Oahu. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and Oahu fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Oahu. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Oahu. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oahu receives 212 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in January than Oahu. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Oahu 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Oahu in the Spring?
Both Oahu 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, many visitors come to Oahu in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Oahu in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Oahu fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).
It's quite sunny in Oahu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Oahu during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Oahu receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Oahu. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Oahu receives 1.7 inches (42 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Oahu 76°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Oahu and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Oahu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 inches (11 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 0.7 inches (19 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 80°F (26°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (98 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.