Which place is cheaper, Portland 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 Portland?
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 Portland 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 Portland?
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.
Portland
Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesPortland Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Portland $211
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Portland is $211. 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 Portland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Portland $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Portland $194
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Portland
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Portland? 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 Portland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Portland $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $61
- Sangster Airport Montego Bay Transfer to Montego Bay or Falmouth: $16
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
- Royalton White Sands Private Airport Transfer: $40
- Royalton Blue Waters & Hideaway by Blue Waters Private Transfer: $35
- Roundtrip Montego Bay Airport Private Transfer to Hotel or Airbnb: $22
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private airport transfer to negril resorts arrival/departure: $17
- Private Transfer/Tours to/from Montego Bay: $60
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland
Also for Portland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Portland Airport PDX: $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Portland Airport (PDX): $40
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Beaverton hotel to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Tigard hotel or address to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Lake Oswego to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Portland?
Prices for flights to both Portland 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 $139Portland $74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Typical Food Prices in Portland
For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Afternoon Drinks (for 2)$9.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland
For Portland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour – Warm Donuts & History: $57
- Walking Pizza Tour: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Westside Food Tour Like a Local: $90
- Secret Food Tour with Local Guide: $102
- Portland Downtown Food Tour: 6 Tastings of Local & Global Flavors: $109
- Alphabet District Food Tour: $119
- 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise on Willamette River: $127
- Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise: $127
- All-Inclusive Downtown Portland Food Tour: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Portland $25
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$2.63
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Snorkeling Trip$18
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 3 Hours Private Highlights Tour & Shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica: $100
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- ATV Adventure and Rick's Cafe Tour with Transportation: $238
- ATV Jungle Safari Tour from Montego Bay: $125
- ATV Tour, Limestone Bamboo Rafting and Transportation: $160
Tours and Activities in Portland
For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Downtown Portland's Outdoor Sculptures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Portland (Downtown) Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $7.69
- Portland Oregon Ghost Tour Paranormal Portland Ghost Tour: $15
- Lan Su Chinese Garden General Admission Ticket: $16
- Mount Hood Loop Scenic Drive Self Guided Audio Tour: $17
- Hopscotch Portland Immersive Art Experience: $24
- Portland Ghost Tours: Punishment, Penance & Poltergeists: $24
- Portland Party Bike Tours: The Classic Crawl - Public: $25
- Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour: $29
- Portland, Oregon: Soul of the City Walking Tour: $29
- Ultimate Dead of Night Walking Ghost Tour: $30
- Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists: Portland Ghost Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Portland $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Portland
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:
- Power Through Portland Bar Crawl: $12
- Private or Shared Party Bike Pub Crawl: $25
- Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Oregon Priority Wine Tasting Pass: $40
- Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings: $48
- Guided Bike Tour with Brewery Visits: $65
- Fun Pasta Making Class at a Local Brewery in Portland: $75
- Fun Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery in Portland: $75
- Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour: $99
- Portland, Maine: Local Brewery & Spirits Bus Tour: $99
- Urban Wine Tasting Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Portland, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Portland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Portland 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 Portland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Portland 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 Portland.
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 Portland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Portland?
Portland has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Portland, 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 Portland?
Portland 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 Portland in the Summer?
Both Portland 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 hiking, the small town charm, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Portland this time of year.
In July, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than Portland. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Portland fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
In Portland, 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 Portland. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 338 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in July than Portland. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Portland receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Portland 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Portland in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Portland. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Portland for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Portland in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Portland fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Portland during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 155 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 Portland. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Portland 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Portland in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Portland. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Portland in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Portland can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than Portland. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Portland averages at about 40°F (4°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 Portland. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 86 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Portland. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in January than Portland. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Portland receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Portland 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Portland in the Spring?
Both Portland 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, most visitors come to Portland for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Portland. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Portland fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
It's quite sunny in Portland. 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 Portland during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of rain as Portland. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Portland 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Portland and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Portland | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 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.