Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso?
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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso?
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.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.
Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.
Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesValparaiso Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $260Valparaiso $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $260, while the average daily cost in Valparaiso is $89. 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 Valparaiso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102Valparaiso $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204Valparaiso $76
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Valparaiso
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Valparaiso? 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 Valparaiso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Valparaiso $5.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort: $45
- Airport (MBJ) Round Trip Transfer in Montego Bay: $60
- Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfers, to Montego Bay Airbnb & Resorts: $53
- Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $30
- Airport Private Transfers from Montego Bay to Hilton Rose Hall: $21
- Airport Round Trip Transfer To Hotels in Montego Bay: $19
- Airport Transfer: $80
- Airport Transfer MBJ Montego Bay to Kingston: $150
- Airport Transfer Montego Bay Hotels: $120
- Airport Transfer To Grand Bahia Principe Hotel: $120
- Airport Transfer To Hotels In Ocho Rios (Round-trip): $170
- Airport Transfer To Iberostar Hotel: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:
- Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $110
- Private transfer from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to San Antonio: $133
- Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $142
- Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago Hotels: $208
- Private Transfer Cruise Port to Santiago with Wine tour & tasting: $209
- Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $258
- Private Valparaiso Port Visit El Cuadro Winery & Transfer: $270
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Valparaiso?
Prices for flights to both Valparaiso 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 $142Valparaiso $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 Dining Experience in Montego Bay: $40
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $130
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $210
Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:
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Empanada$2.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valparaiso.
- Cooking Classes in Viña del Mar Learn to Make Tapas and Desserts: $75
- 3hr Viña del Mar Cooking Class with local : Ceviche & Leche Asada: $85
- Learn to Cook Like a Local: Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Valparaiso $20
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$2.69
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
- Souvenirs and Gift shopping Tour in Montego Bay: $20
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
- Montego Bay Cruise Ship Port to Doctor's Cave Beach and City Tour: $29
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
- Half-Day Private Guided Ricks Café & Negril Seven Mile Beach Tour: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Day Tour: $40
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Limestone Massage and Hip Strip Tour In Jamaica: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso
Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Tour$4.50
Tours and Activities in Valparaiso
Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour in Street Art, funiculars and port: $25
- Valparaiso Highlights Walking Tour with A Guide: $30
- Valparaiso : Private Custom Tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $36
- Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
- Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Cultural Tour of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $40
- Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Valparaiso in Depth : Walking Tour Exclusive: $40
- Walking Tour Valparaiso, History & Art - Private Optional: $42
- Explore Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Tour: $58
- Private Gastronomic Tour Valparaiso: $70
- Valpo in 1 day: Authentic + Famous! Semi-private walking tour & public transport: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Valparaiso $8.36
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: $231
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255
Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Beer$1.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:
- A Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour Service from Casablanca: $75
- Private Wine Tour in Valparaiso: $273
- Santiago: Valparaíso Walking Tour & Casablanca Wine Tasting: $320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Valparaiso, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Valparaiso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Valparaiso is in South 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 Valparaiso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso.
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 Valparaiso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Valparaiso?
Valparaiso has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Valparaiso, 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.
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.