Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen?
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.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Playa del Carmen $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $81. 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 Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104Playa del Carmen $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Playa del Carmen $80
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen? 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 Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Playa del Carmen $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $60
- Airport Transfer To S Hotel (Round-trip): $35
- Airport Transfer to Montego Bay Hotels (Round-Trip): $54
- Airport Transfers to Iberostar Hotel (Round-trip): $53
- MBJ Airport Private Round Trip Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay Area: $27
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
- Round-Trip Transfer Airport Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay : $41
- Roundtrip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Meliá Braco Hotel: $80
- Shared Airport Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $55
- 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $35
- Airport Transfer To Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa: $60
- Airport Transfer to Excellence Oyster Bay and Royalton: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire from Playa del Carmen: $25
- Shared transfer from Playa del Carmen tu Cancun airport: $25
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen: $31
- Akumal to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Maroma Beach: Entry Ticket to Maroma Beach Club & Transfer: $47
- Shared Transfer Cancun Airport - Puerto Aventuras: $48
- Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park from Playa del Carmen: $53
- Private Transfer Airport-Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres 1-8 pax: $59
- Shared roundtrip transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen: $71
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Akumal City - Cancun Airport (CUN) : $74
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen 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 $84Playa del Carmen $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Private Transportation to DINNER or NIGHT CLUBS: $55
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- Private Sea-Food Tour & Floyds Pelican Bar from Montego Bay or ..: $185
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $60
- Walking Food Tour: $65
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class: $100
- Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $101
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $104
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Cultural Coba Sunset Adventure with Dinner and show from Cancun: $130
- Sunset Adventure in Coba and Dinner with Show from Riviera Maya: $155
- Riviera Maya: Sunset Cruise with Beach Dinner and Open Bar: $157
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Playa del Carmen $17
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$2.74
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$44
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour of Montego Bay City: $39
- Shopping and Sightseeing Local Guided Tour In Montego Bay: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $40
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shopping Tour & Tulum Mayan Ruins: $11
- Cancun Airport: Bus Ticket to/from Playa del Carmen: $14
- Tulum Ruins: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $15
- Ek Balam: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $15
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2024: $20
- YAL-KÚ Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $23
- Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $28
- Ultramar Ferry, Regular round ticket, Playa del Carmen-Cozumel: $32
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $34
- Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to/from Cozumel: $35
- Mayan tour 4x1: Tulum, Cobá, Cenote & Playa del carmen: $35
- Tulum Ruins and Amusement Park Shared Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Playa del Carmen $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: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen.
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 Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Playa del Carmen, 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 Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Playa del Carmen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Playa del Carmen during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 223 hours of full sun in the summer.
Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Playa del Carmen 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 233 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Playa del Carmen 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen in the Winter?
Both Playa del Carmen and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Playa del Carmen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. 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 Playa del Carmen during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Carmen receives 224 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Playa del Carmen 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen in the Spring?
Both Playa del Carmen and Montego Bay during the spring 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 beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year.
In the spring, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Playa del Carmen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Playa del Carmen averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Carmen receives 259 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Carmen. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Carmen receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Playa del Carmen 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Carmen and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Playa del Carmen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
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.