Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesPhiladelphia Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $258Philadelphia $224
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $258, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $224. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Philadelphia $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Philadelphia $28
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 Runaway Bay Transfer: $160
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $74
- VIP Airport Transfer-RIU Palace, Reggae,Montego bay: $140
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Runaway Bay: $172
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $64
- The Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $50
- Sunset at the Palm Private Negril Airport Transfer: $52
- Sunscape Splash Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Sunscape Resorts Montego Bay Private Airport Transfers: $25
- Sports bar Day or Nightlife Experience with Private Transfer: $70
- Silver Sands Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Around the Clock Transfer from PHL to Downtown Philadelphia: $95
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $101
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia to Airport PHL by Business Car: $101
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Luxury SUV: $112
- Reliable Shuttle Transfer from Philadelphia Airport to Wilmington: $129
- Private Transfer Philadephia Airport PHL to Philadelphia by SUV: $152
- Philadelphia City to Baltimore City - Private Car Transfer: $204
- Minibus Private Transfer Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia: $273
- Minibus Private Transfer Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport PHL: $273
- Exclusive Private Transfer Service Across the USA: $275
- Philadelphia to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer: $294
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 $142Philadelphia $84
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 Dining Experience in Montego Bay: $40
- 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
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $85
- Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Philly Breakfast Food Tour: $56
- Philadelphia Africatown Walking Food Tour: $56
- Nibble Food Tour: $58
- Center City Philadelphia Food Tour with Reading Market: $59
- Philadelphia's Italian Market Food Tour: $61
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Philly Chef-Led Italian Market Food Tour: $69
- Philadelphia Historic Centre Food Tour with 5 Authentic Tastings: $72
- City Cruises Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $95
- Behind The Scenes Food Tour: South Philly & Italian Market: $103
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $105
- Chinatown Guided Food Tour: $105
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Philadelphia $28
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 Efoil Experience in Montego Bay: $150
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 2 Days Private Jamaica Tour: $230
- 2 Hour Private Montego Bay City Tour with Souvenir’s Shopping: $80
- 27/27 Lounge, Pier 1 & Margaritaville Nightlife Tour In Jamaica: $72
- 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $58
- 4-Hour Catamaran Party Cruise with Open Bar from Montego Bay: $200
- 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 Party Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling & Ricks Cafe: $115
- 7 Mile Beach Private Tour: $122
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.49
- Philadelphia Haunted Ghost Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
- Disease and Erasure: An Audio Tour of Philadelphia: $9.99
- Philadelphia - Freedom: At your leisure & pace. An audiovisual walking tour.: $15
- Independence Hall Entry Ticket, Liberty Bell, Map & Walking Tour: $15
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Allentown by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia Admission Ticket: $22
- The Ghosts of Philadelphia Tour: $25
- Walking Tour of Historic Philadelphia: $25
- The Phantom Penance of Philadelphia Ghost Tour: $26
- Museum of the American Revolution Admission Ticket with Audio Guided Option: $27
- Museum of Illusions Philadelphia Admission Ticket: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Philadelphia $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
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Philly Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Philadelphia Old City History Pub Crawl Small-Group Tour: $45
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $50
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
When comparing the travel costs between Montego Bay and Philadelphia, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Philadelphia is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia?
Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia in the Summer?
Both Philadelphia 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, the summer months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Montego Bay is a little warmer than Philadelphia in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
In Philadelphia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Philadelphia. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.
Philadelphia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than Philadelphia. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Philadelphia in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Philadelphia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is much warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Philadelphia during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 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 Philadelphia. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Philadelphia in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Philadelphia. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Philadelphia. In January, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Philadelphia. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Philadelphia. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Philadelphia 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)Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Philadelphia in the Spring?
Both Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Philadelphia in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Philadelphia during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Philadelphia. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Philadelphia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 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.