A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montego Bay vs. Puerto Natales for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montego Bay or Puerto Natales?

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 Puerto Natales 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 Puerto Natales?

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.

Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is a beautiful town located in the Chilean Patagonia on the Senoret Channel. The city is often used as a base camp for trips to the surrounding national parks due to their plentiful restaurant options and access to internet. Puerto Natales is also known for being the base city to the Torres del Paine National Park, which was named the 5th most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Natales 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.

  • Montego Bay Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Puerto Natales Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Montego Bay $259
    Puerto Natales $111

The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in Puerto Natales is $111. 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 Puerto Natales in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montego Bay $102
    Puerto Natales $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montego Bay $204
    Puerto Natales $80
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Puerto Natales

Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Puerto Natales? 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.

Hotels in Montego Bay


Hotels in Puerto Natales


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 Puerto Natales Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montego Bay $15
    Puerto Natales $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $45
  • A "Private" Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort: $45
  • A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14
  • Airport (MBJ) Round Trip Transfer in Montego Bay: $60
  • Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns: $260
  • Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfers, to Montego Bay Airbnb & Resorts: $53
  • Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $30
  • Airport Private Transfers from Montego Bay to Hilton Rose Hall: $21
  • Airport Transfer: $80
  • Airport Transfer From Kingston: $200
  • Airport Transfer MBJ Montego Bay to Kingston: $150
  • Airport Transfer Negril Hotels: $130

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Natales

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Natales:

  • Private transfer Airport x Lodging (Puerto Natales): $25
  • Puerto Natales Airport Private Transfer: $43
  • Transfer Puerto Natales Hotel Lago Grey Connection Navigation: $75
  • From Torres del Paine Tour with Transfer: $84
  • Shared transfer minibus Puerto Natales (CL) to El Calafate (ARG): $134
  • Base of the Paine Towers Trekking with Transfer: $150
  • Private Transfer: From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $422
  • Fly fishing FD Tour Gear Lunch & transfer: $1,200

Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Puerto Natales?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Natales 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Montego Bay $142
    Puerto Natales $51

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
  • Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $50
  • Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
  • Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
  • 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
  • Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175

Typical Food Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Cake
    $1.11
  • Dinner
    $19
  • Coke
    $1.11

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montego Bay $31
    Puerto Natales $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:


  • Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach
    $2.68
  • Snorkeling Trip
    $19
  • One Tank Dive
    $37
  • 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:

  • Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
  • Bamboo Rafting Adventure with Limestone Massage from Montego Bay: $20
  • Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $20
  • Souvenirs and Gift shopping Tour in Montego Bay: $20
  • Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
  • Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour: Home of Johnny Cash: $23
  • Night Life Tour in Montego Bay with complimentary section: $25
  • Montego Bay Cruise Ship Port to Doctor's Cave Beach and City Tour: $29
  • Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
  • Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
  • Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
  • Half-Day Private Guided Ricks Café & Negril Seven Mile Beach Tour: $35

Tours and Activities in Puerto Natales

Here are a few actual costs in Puerto Natales for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Torres del Paine National Park Full-Day Tour: $66
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $75
  • Full day tour Torres del Paine: $80
  • Torres del Paine & Milodon Cave Day Tour: $80
  • Torres del Paine Park Full-Day Tour from Puerto Natales: $83
  • Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $88
  • Torres del Paine & Milodon cave. Day tour from Puerto Natales: $88
  • Torres del Paine Full Day Tour: $90
  • Torres del Paine Base Full Day Trekking Tour: $90
  • Full Day Tour to Torres del Paine National Park: $92
  • Base of the Towers Trekking Experience: $95
  • Full Day Torres del Paine Tour: $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montego Bay $13
    Puerto Natales $18

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 Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255

Typical Alcohol Prices in Puerto Natales

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Puerto Natales:


  • Alcohol
    $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Puerto Natales, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Natales much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Natales is in South 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 Puerto Natales would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Natales 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 Puerto Natales.

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 Puerto Natales Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Puerto Natales?

Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Puerto Natales. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Puerto Natales, 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.