Which place is cheaper, Saint John's or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Saint John's?
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 Saint John's 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 Saint John's?
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.
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Saint John's $222
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $222. 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 Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104Saint John's $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Saint John's $240
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Saint John's
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Saint John's? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Saint John's $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Airport Transfer To Hotels In Montego Bay (Round-trip): $65
- Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $60
- Airport Transfer to Sunscape Splash Resort (Round-Trip) : $34
- Airport Transfers to Iberostar Hotel (Round-trip): $53
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
- Round-Trip Transfer Airport Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay : $41
- Roundtrip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Meliá Braco Hotel: $80
- Shared Airport Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $55
- (Roundtrip) Private Airport Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay: $41
- 12. Runaway Bay Hotels&Accommodations Airport Private Transfer to/from Sangster : $70
- 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $35
- 7. Excellence Oyster Bay Resort Private Airport Transfer To/from Sangster Intl : $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- D.A.G Airport Transfers : $30
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private One-Way Antigua Airport Transfer To/From Antigua: $45
- Shared Roundtrip Taxi Transfer from Antigua Airport to Royalton Antigua Resort: $45
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $74
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $78
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Saint John's?
Prices for flights to both Saint John's 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 $84Saint John's $68
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Saint John's $103
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:
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour of Montego Bay City: $39
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $40
- The AMAZING Montego Bay Tour: $43
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Saint John's $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:
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $103
- Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
When comparing the travel costs between Montego Bay and Saint John's, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Caribbean Islands, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Saint John's Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Saint John's?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Saint John's, 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 Saint John's?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint John's in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Saint John's. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 245 hours of full sun in the summer.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Saint John's in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Saint John's fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Saint John's 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint John's in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Saint John's. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John's. Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in October than Saint John's. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 217 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Saint John's. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John's averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Saint John's 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint John's in the Winter?
Both Saint John's and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Saint John's. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Saint John's receives 236 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Saint John's. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and Saint John's fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Saint John's 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint John's in the Spring?
Both Saint John's and Montego Bay during the spring 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 Saint John's year-round.
Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Saint John's. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint John's receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint John's. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint John's receives 240 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Saint John's in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Saint John's fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Saint John's 26°C (78°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John's and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Saint John's | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.