Which place is cheaper, Ocean City or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montego Bay and Ocean 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.
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.
One of the most popular vacation areas of the U.S. east coast, Ocean City is a long-time resort town, taking roots as a getaway when the first beach-front cottage was built in 1869. The destination sits on a strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay. The Atlantic Hotel was the first major hotel, built in 1875 and still in business today. It has been family owned and operated since Charles W. Purnell bought it in 1923.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Ocean City is $160. 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 Ocean City in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Ocean 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
Prices for flights to both Ocean 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ocean City are as follows:
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Ocean City, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Ocean City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Ocean 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 Ocean City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocean City 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 Ocean City.
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 Ocean City Expensive?.
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Ocean 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.
Ocean City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montego Bay experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Ocean City 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. Also, many visitors come to Ocean City in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Montego Bay is a little warmer than Ocean City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Ocean City averages at about 77°F (25°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ocean City. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Ocean City. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Ocean City 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Ocean City for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Ocean City. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Ocean City fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Ocean City. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Ocean City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Ocean City can be very cold. Montego Bay is much warmer than Ocean City in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Ocean City fluctuates around 35°F (2°C).
In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Ocean City. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Ocean City. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year.
In the spring, Montego Bay is much warmer than Ocean City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Ocean City averages at about 54°F (12°C).
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Ocean City. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Ocean City receives 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Montego Bay | Ocean City | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 35°F (2°C) | 3.6 inches (93 mm) |
Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 5.3 inches (135 mm) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |