Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
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 Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesPunta Arenas Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Punta Arenas $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $79. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Kingston: One Way Private Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $319
- Private Airport Transfers To and From Kingston (KIN) Airport: $200
- Horseback Ride/Swim and Blue Hole Falls Daytrip with Transfers: $190
- Green Grato Caves and Dunns River Falls with Private Transfer : $180
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting Tour with Private Transfer: $135
- Club Mobay VIP Lounge Access and Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $113
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
- Experience Jamaica Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $100
- Airport Transfer Service In Montego bay: $95
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Airport Punta Arenas : $30
- Oneway Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Punta Arenas: $37
- Transfer from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $139Punta Arenas $36
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 Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Punta Arenas $6.44
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
- Private Dolphin Cove Adventure : $250
- 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
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- Fort Bulnes Historical Tour: $39
- City Tour: $60
- City Tour Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $60
- Punta Arenas City Tour Shore Excursion: $60
- Cruises Shore Excursions : City tour Cruises Regular: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Fuerte Bulnes Shore Tour for Cruisers in Punta Arenas: $80
- Full-Day Torres del Paine Tour: $88
- Monte Tarn Trekking Tour with Guide: $129
- Torres Del Paine and Milodon Cave Full Day Tour: $135
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $154
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Punta Arenas $4.86
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Punta Arenas, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Punta Arenas. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Montego Bay is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Punta Arenas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin January. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenasin January. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
Both Punta Arenas and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
In October, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin April. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. In October, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin April. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
Both Punta Arenas and Montego Bay during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The weather in Punta Arenas can be very cold. Montego Bay is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Punta Arenasin July. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In the spring, Montego Bay is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in October.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Punta Arenasin October. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.