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

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Should you visit Montego Bay or Roatan?

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 Roatan 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 Roatan?

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.

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Montego Bay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $204, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $38. 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 Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montego Bay $104
    Roatan $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montego Bay $208
    Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Roatan? 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 Roatan


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 Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montego Bay $15
    Roatan $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • Roundtrip Airport Transfers to Hotels in Montego Bay: $0.39
  • Riu Montego Bay , Riu Reggae & Riu Palace Airport Transfer: $8.00
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
  • Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
  • One Way Airport Transfer to/from Hotels: $11
  • Zoëtry Resorts Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $11
  • Airport Montego Bay To Montego Bay Hotels Shared Transfers: $12
  • Best Jamaica Airport Private Transfer to any Montego Bay Hotels: $13
  • Sandals Royal Caribbean Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
  • Private Airport Transfer to Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach : $13
  • Grandiosa Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
  • Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13

Typical Local Transportation prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $4.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $15
  • Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
  • Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $38
  • Hotels/Ferry to Honduras Airport (RTB)-Departure Private Transfer: $38
  • Honduras Airport(RTB) to hotels or ferry-Arrival Private Transfer: $38
  • Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $38
  • Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
  • Round trip transfers from airport or ferry to hotel: $40
  • Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
  • Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $55
  • AJ's Sloth & Monkeys Family Excursion, City Tour & Private Transfer: $57
  • Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $84
    Roatan $9.44

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
  • 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
  • Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144
  • Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Montego Bay: $147
  • Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon with Dinner : $149
  • Full Day Martha Brae Rafting & Luminous Lagoon Tour with Dinner: $158
  • Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
  • [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $174
  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.

  • Roatan Cultural & Local Food Tour: $80
  • Tiki Boat Sunset Cruise in Roatan with Snorkeling and Dinner : $100
  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $122

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montego Bay $32
    Roatan $27
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
    $2.74
  • Snorkeling Trip
    $19
  • One Tank Dive
    $38
  • 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:

  • Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
  • Guided Tour of The Greenwood Great House: $20
  • Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
  • Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $23
  • Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
  • Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay : $30
  • Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
  • Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
  • Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
  • Club Mobay VIP Experience: Sangster International Airport- MBJ: $35
  • Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
  • Private Tour of Childermas Estate: A Female-Owned Working Farm: $40

Tours and Activities in Roatan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:

  • My Garifuna Story Walking Tour: $25
  • Organized trips and adventures: $26
  • Private Half Day Tour in Roatan Island : $31
  • The Best of Roatan Customizable Private Island Tours: $33
  • West Side Tour - Chocolate Factory Rum Factory Views Shoppinga and Sunsets: $35
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan Private VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
  • Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
  • Roatan Island Tour & Beach Break: $40
  • 4-to-5 Hour Cultural Sightseeing Tour, Optional Monkeys/Sloths & West Bay Resort: $40
  • Make it Up Tour Customize your own Tour: $40
  • Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
  • Eco-Walk Nature Tour: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montego Bay $13
    Roatan $7.08

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 Distillery Tour Admission with Tastings by Chukka: $39
  • Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $103
  • Hampden Rum Distillery / Montego Bay Highlight Tour : $120
  • Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215

Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:

  • Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
  • Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $65

How are these travel costs calculated?

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

Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Roatan?

Montego Bay is bigger, and its population is about 11 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the population of Montego Bay vs. Roatan, 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 and the activities that interest you.

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.
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Montego Bay vs. Roatan Travel Comparison

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