Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 $104Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Punta 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 $15Punta Arenas $1.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Private Airport OneWay Transfer to Hotel in Montego Bay : $300
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport To Ocho Rios: $267
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $245
- Private Transfer to Island Gully Falls: $240
- Black River and YS Falls Adventure with Transfer: $235
- Private Transfer to Kingston: $215
- Kingston Airport Transfer (Montego bay,Negril,Ocho rio): $214
- Negril Hotels / Resort - Airport Transfers: $213
- Iberostar Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $200
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $195
- Jewel Resort Transfer: $192
- Luxury Suburban Private Airport Transfer with Chauffeur : $192
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) 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 $84Punta Arenas $21
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
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 $32Punta 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$2.74
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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
- Bioluminescence Lagoon tour from Montego Bay with Pick Up: $105
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Blue Hole Adventure Tour : $120
- Dirt Adventure ATV from Montego Bay: $160
- Floyds Pelican Bar Private Tour : $155
- Green Grotto Cave Private Tour: $115
- Horseback Riding and Tour from Montego Bay : $230
- Jetski Experience: $245
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
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
- Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
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$7.34
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.