Should you visit Montego Bay or Saint John's?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Montego Bay and Saint John's can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Saint John's or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $165, while the average daily cost in Saint John's is $178. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Montego Bay and Saint John's in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Montego Bay is $168. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $96. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Saint John's the cost is $192 on average.
Food
In Montego Bay travelers spend around $68 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Saint John's travelers spend around $54 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montego Bay $68
Saint John's $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
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Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive:
$85
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Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour:
$144
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Montego Bay is $12 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Saint John's is $14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
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(Roundtrip) Private Airport Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay:
$41
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24 Hour Airport Transfer (Select your destination/hotel):
$42
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Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Private Transfer:
$95
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Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns:
$260
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Airport Montego Bay To Montego Bay Hotels Shared Transfers:
$8.00
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Airport Montego Bay To Negril Hotels Shared Transfers:
$19
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Airport Montego Bay to RoseHall Hotels Shared Transfers:
$9.34
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Airport Private Transfers from Montego Bay to Hilton Rose Hall:
$21
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Airport Round Trip Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels:
$43
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Airport Round Trip Transfer in Montego Bay:
$37
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Airport Round Trip Transfer to Negril:
$107
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Airport Transfer:
$54
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
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.
Entertainment
Montego Bay's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $26 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Saint John's's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $82 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
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Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi:
$10
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Montego Bay Half-Day Shopping Tour:
$10
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Montego Bay Walking Tour:
$18
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Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket:
$20
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Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup:
$21
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Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour (HipStrip):
$22
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ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS:
$25
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City Tour and Shopping in Montego Bay:
$26
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The AMAZING Montego Bay Tour:
$34
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Day Tour to Dunn's River Falls and Park with Pick Up:
$35
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Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets:
$35
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Rose Hall Great House Private Day Tour:
$36
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:
Alcohol
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Montego Bay per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Saint John's may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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:
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Hampden Rum Distillery / Montego Bay Highlight Tour & 876 Beach Club:
$82
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Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver:
$215
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Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe:
$255
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.
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