Which place is cheaper, San Pedro 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 Pedro?
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 Pedro 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 Pedro?
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 Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203San Pedro $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in San Pedro is $135. 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 Pedro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104San Pedro $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208San Pedro $132
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and San Pedro
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or San Pedro? 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 $15San Pedro $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer : $10
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Transfer : $10
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Transfer Sangster International Airport to Montego Bay: $12
- Private Airport Transfer to Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach : $13
- Private Airport Transfer to Sandals Montego : $13
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Montego Bay: $13
- MBJ Airport: Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Breathless/ to Secrets Resort: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Hyatt Ziva & Zilara to Jewel Grande: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or San Pedro?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro 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 Pedro $40
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 San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32San Pedro $33
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
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $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
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $45
- Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $45
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
- SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $105
- Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
- Mexico Rocks Day Sail Shared Guided Tour: $129
- Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13San Pedro $16
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and San Pedro, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and San Pedro 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 Pedro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro 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 Pedro.
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 Pedro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or San Pedro?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and San Pedro, 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 Pedro?
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 Pedro in the Summer?
Both San Pedro and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than San Pedro. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in San Pedro. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than San Pedro during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 226 hours of full sun in the summer.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and San Pedro fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)San Pedro 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Pedro in the Autumn?
Both San Pedro and Montego Bay during the autumn 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 Pedro year-round.
San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in October than San Pedro. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than San Pedro. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 196 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as San Pedro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Pedro averages at about 26°C (80°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)San Pedro 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Pedro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and San Pedro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than San Pedro. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than San Pedro during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 199 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as San Pedro. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and San Pedro fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)San Pedro 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Pedro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as San Pedro. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than San Pedro. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than San Pedro. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 256 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and San Pedro fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)San Pedro 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for San Pedro and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | San Pedro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 138 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.