Should you visit Montego Bay or Saint Thomas?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Montego Bay and Saint Thomas 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 Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $166, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $175. 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 Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Montego Bay is $170. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $210 in Saint Thomas For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
The price of a meal in Saint Thomas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $43 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $17 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Montego Bay $68
Saint Thomas $43
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.
To get around in Saint Thomas, the average visitor spends $29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
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Private RoundTrip Transfer Donald Sangster Airport MBJ to Port Antonio byMinivan:
$633
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Airport Transfers Montego Bay Luxury Sedan Car (Private):
$453
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Private RoundTrip Transfer: Donald Sangster Airport MBJ to Kingston by Minivan:
$417
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Luxury White House Hotels Transfers:
$400
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Luxury Negril Hotels Transfers:
$400
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Luxury Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers:
$400
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Airport transfers:
$345
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Mini Van Luxury Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers:
$308
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Private Round Trip Transfer Donald Sangster Airport MBJ to Mandeville by Minivan:
$283
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Montego Bay to Kingston Hotel/Airport Transfer:
$272
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Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns:
$260
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Montego Bay Airport Transfer:
$260
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$65
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Taxi Ride
$5.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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.
In Saint Thomas, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $48 per person, per day.
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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"Ocho Rios Nature Lovers Tour":
$75
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(MBJ) Montego Bay Highlight Tour:
$45
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3-Day Sightseeing Tour of Portland and Ocho Rios starting in Montego Bay:
$695
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3-Day Sightseeing Tour of Treasure Beach and Negril departing from Montego Bay:
$695
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3-Hour Reggae & Snorkeling Catamaran Cruise from Montego Bay:
$99
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4 Hours Montego Bay Private Sightseeing Highlight Tour:
$308
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7 Hour Lethe River Rafting, Beach, City Tour & Local Market:
$125
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7 Mile Beach Private Tour from Montego Bay or Falmouth:
$108
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7-Day Bus Tour Across Jamaica from Montego Bay:
$2,769
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A Culinary Experience at Zimbali Retreat:
$185
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A Private Tour of Southcoast Saint Elizabeth:
$256
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ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS:
$25
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
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Snorkel St. John Tour from Sapphire & Margaritaville:
$135
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Saint Thomas, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
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 Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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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