Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo?
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 Viejo 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 Viejo?
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 Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Puerto Viejo $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $145. 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 Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104Puerto Viejo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo? 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 Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Puerto Viejo $38
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
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay HTL-APT (MBJ): $37
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Transfers from Montego Bay Airport to Negril: $53
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $55
- The Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $50
- Sunset at the Palms Negril Airport Transfers: $53
- Sunset at the Palm Private Negril Airport Transfer : $52
- Southcoast Private Airport Transfer: $108
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Negril: $27
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Montego Bay: $13
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Lucea : $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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 $84Puerto Viejo $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $40
- 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
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $130
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Montego Bay: $147
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Puerto Viejo $78
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:
- ATV Adventure to Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe: $220
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, and Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $173
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Pelican Bar Customize Tour: $120
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Blue Hole Adventure Tour : $120
- Catamaran Party Cruise and Snorkeling from Montego Bay: $220
- Dirt Adventure ATV from Montego Bay: $160
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Floyds Pelican Bar Private Tour : $155
- Green Grotto Cave Private Tour: $115
- Horseback Riding and Tour from Montego Bay : $230
- Jetski Experience: $245
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Puerto Viejo $13
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: $103
- Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Viejo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Viejo is in Central 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 Viejo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Viejo 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 Viejo.
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 Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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 Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In April, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.