Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
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.
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Santa Cruz $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Santa Cruz? 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 Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Santa Cruz $40
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 Transfer : $10
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Montego Bay: $13
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $13
- Private Airport Transfer to Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach : $13
- MBJ Airport: Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $14
- Airport Transfer to RIU Montego Bay/Palace/Reggae: $14
- Montego Bay Airport Private Transfer to Riu Montego Bay, Reggae, Palace: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Half Moon - Holiday Inn - Zoetry: $14
- MBJ Airport Private Transfer to Montego Bay Hotels: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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 $84Santa Cruz $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
- Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting & Luminous Lagoon Sunset, Swim& Dinner: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Santa Cruz $18
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:
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Night Life Tour in Montego Bay : $40
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
- City Highlights and Souvenir Shopping Tour: $45
- Rose Hall Great House 2-Hour Night Tour: $45
- 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $45
- Half-Day Private Guided Ricks Café & Negril Seven Mile Beach Tour: $45
- Bamboo Rafting and Margaritaville Hip Strip Private Tour: $45
- Tranfers and Tours: $48
- 4 Hours Custom Adventure and Water Activities in Montego Bay: $50
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Santa Cruz $8.57
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 Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $103
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Santa Cruz, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz is in North 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 Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Santa Cruz?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montego Bay experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz 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. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
In July, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
Both Santa Cruz 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. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).
In January, Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Cruz. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Santa Cruz. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
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.