Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur?
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 San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur?
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.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur? 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 San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15San Juan del Sur $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $60
- Airport Transfer To S Hotel (Round-trip): $35
- Airport Transfer to Montego Bay Hotels (Round-Trip): $54
- Airport Transfers to Iberostar Hotel (Round-trip): $53
- MBJ Airport Private Round Trip Transfer to Hotels in Montego Bay Area: $27
- 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
- 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $35
- Airport Transfer To Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa: $60
- Airport Transfer to Excellence Oyster Bay and Royalton: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur 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 $84San Juan del Sur $18
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32San Juan del Sur $15
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
- Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour of Montego Bay City: $39
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Shopping and Sightseeing Local Guided Tour In Montego Bay: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $40
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13San Juan del Sur $13
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur.
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 San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and San Juan del Sur, 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 San Juan del Sur?
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 San Juan del Sur in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and San Juan del Sur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in October than San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
Both San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
Both San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur year-round.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan del Sur, 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 San Juan del Sur. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.