Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Santa Elena?
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 Elena 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 Elena?
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 Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Santa Elena $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $109. 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 Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Santa Elena? 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 $14Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Kingston: One Way Private Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $319
- Private Airport Transfers To and From Kingston (KIN) Airport: $200
- Horseback Ride/Swim and Blue Hole Falls Daytrip with Transfers: $190
- Green Grato Caves and Dunns River Falls with Private Transfer : $180
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting Tour with Private Transfer: $135
- Club Mobay VIP Lounge Access and Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $113
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
- Experience Jamaica Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $100
- Airport Transfer Service In Montego bay: $95
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $197
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $210
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $215
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $233
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $240
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $139Santa Elena $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Monteverde Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Santa Elena $30
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$2.63
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Snorkeling Trip$18
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
- Private Dolphin Cove Adventure : $250
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 3 Hours Private Highlights Tour & Shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica: $100
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- ATV Adventure and Rick's Cafe Tour with Transportation: $238
- ATV Jungle Safari Tour from Montego Bay: $125
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Admission Ticket to Las Pumas Rescue Center : $20
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $22
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $22
- Night Walk Tour in Monteverde: $24
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $26
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $26
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $27
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $27
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $28
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $29
- Selvatura Park: Herpetarium Tour in Monteverde: $29
- Cloud Forest Small Group Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Santa Elena $6.21
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Santa Elena, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Elena.
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 Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montego Bay or Santa Elena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Elena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Santa Elena. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 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 summer, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
Both Santa Elena and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. In October, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Elena in the Winter?
Both Santa Elena and Montego Bay during the winter 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 Santa Elena year-round.
February to May is the dry season in Santa Elena. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay is cooler than Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Santa Elena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. June to October in Santa Elena is the hurricane season. In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Montego Bay is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.