A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montego Bay vs. Vancouver for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montego Bay or Vancouver?

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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver?

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.

Vancouver

Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Vancouver 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.

  • Montego Bay Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Vancouver Prices
    Canada Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Montego Bay $259
    Vancouver $159

The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $259, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $159. 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 Vancouver in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montego Bay $102
    Vancouver $84
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montego Bay $204
    Vancouver $168
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Vancouver

Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Vancouver? 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.

Hotels in Montego Bay


Hotels in Vancouver


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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montego Bay $15
    Vancouver $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • Chevy Suburban Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $300
  • Jet Car Adventure in Montego Bay with Transfers: $300
  • Mercedes Benz Sprinter Airport Transfer: $300
  • Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Negril Hotels: $270
  • Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport To Ocho Rios: $267
  • SUV Prado Transfer from Montego Bay Airport: $257
  • Private Luxury Transfers in Montego Bay – Reliable Services: $250
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $245
  • Private Roundtrip Transfer to/from Ohio Rios and Sangster Airport: $241
  • Private Transfer To/From Montego Bay & Airport MBJ Across Jamaica: $238
  • Airport-Negril Hotels Transfers and Returns For 1- 4 persons: $230
  • ATV and Zipline Combo Tour with Round-Trip Transfers: $225

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:


  • SkyTrain from Airport
    $6.14
  • Taxi from Airport to Downtown
    $20
  • 15 min Taxi Ride
    $8.42
  • SkyTrain DayPass
    $6.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver

Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bus Transfer from/to Squamish: $26
  • Bus Transfer from/to Whistler: $26
  • YVR Airport Private Transfer to/from Vancouver: $29
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
  • Group Transfer to/from Vancouver International Airport (YVR): $32
  • Transfers Vancouver Airport and Cruise port to or from Hotels: $40
  • Luxury Personalized Vancouver Transfer Airport or Cruise: $43
  • Private Transfer from Vancouver Hotels to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $45
  • Private Airport Transfer to/from YVR Airport: $45
  • Vancouver hotel/address to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $58
  • City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $58
  • Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Vancouver?

Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Montego Bay $142
    Vancouver $52

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: $45
  • Montego Bay City and Food Tour All Inclusive Experience: $48
  • Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
  • Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
  • Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
  • Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
  • 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
  • Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
  • Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
  • Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife: $150
  • Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
  • Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195

Typical Food Prices in Vancouver

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:


  • All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch
    $8.51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver

For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Vancouver Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Pastries, and More: $75
  • Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Food Tour: $82
  • Vancouver Gastown's Elite Walking Food Tour Experience: $92
  • Dim Sum Cooking Class with Chef Renée in Vancouver: $94
  • Vancouver Chinatown Elite Food Tour Hidden Gems & Local Tastings: $97
  • Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $98
  • Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $101
  • 6 Tastings Food Tour of Gastown District: $102
  • Taste North Vancouver Shipyards - Food Tour with Local Eats: $112
  • Gastown Historical Walking Food Tour: $117
  • Vancouver Foodie Tour: Granville Island Market Food Tour: $118
  • Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montego Bay $31
    Vancouver $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:


  • Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach
    $2.68
  • Snorkeling Trip
    $19
  • One Tank Dive
    $37
  • 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:

  • 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
  • 2 Days Of Blue Hole, Dunns River Falls & Hidden Beauty Adventure: $180
  • 2 Hour Private Montego Bay City Tour with Souvenir’s Shopping: $80
  • 27/27 Lounge, Pier 1 & Margaritaville Nightlife Tour In Jamaica: $80
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
  • 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $58
  • 4 Hours Private Night Life Experience in Montego Bay: $66
  • 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
  • 7 Mile Beach Private Tour: $122
  • 7 Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe Private Tour: $80
  • 7 Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe in Negril from Montego Bay Private Tour: $120
  • ATV & Horseback Riding combo tour Montego Bay with Pickup: $190

Tours and Activities in Vancouver

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.

  • Discover A Self-Guided Tour: $3.42
  • Vancouver Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $3.67
  • Mt. Pleasant Street Art Tour with a Guide: $4.93
  • Gratuity-Based Vancouver City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Fort Langley Film & Television Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.75
  • Vancouver Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Spy Escape in Outdoor Puzzle Adventure: $6.17
  • Stanley Park Self Guided Bike Tour: $6.33
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $7.04
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in North Vancouver by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $11
  • Underground Comedy Club Entry Ticket: $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montego Bay $13
    Vancouver $15

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 Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $250

Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:

  • Amazing Bar Crawl in Vancouver BC: $15
  • Gastown Pub Crawl: $21
  • 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $85
  • North Vancouver Elite Walking Brewery Tour: $93
  • Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour Led by a Local: $104
  • From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $127
  • From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $133
  • Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $158
  • Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting: $169
  • Fraser Valley and White Rock Wine Tour: $171
  • Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $173
  • Vancouver Distillery Private Tour and Tasting: $260


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Vancouver, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Vancouver 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.

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 Vancouver Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Vancouver?

Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?

Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Vancouver. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Vancouver for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.

Montego Bay usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Montego Bay 28°C (82°F) 
    Vancouver 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Montego Bay or Vancouver in the Autumn?

Both Vancouver 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. Also, many visitors come to Vancouver in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Montego Bay is much warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. In October, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Montego Bay 27°C (81°F) 
    Vancouver 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Montego Bay or Vancouver in the Winter?

Both Vancouver 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. Also, most visitors come to Vancouver for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Vancouver can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).

It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.

Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Montego Bay 24°C (75°F) 
    Vancouver 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Montego Bay or Vancouver in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Vancouver because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Montego Bay 25°C (77°F) 
    Vancouver 9°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Vancouver and Montego Bay

Montego Bay Vancouver
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (75°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 4°C (40°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Feb 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 6°C (42°F) 179 mm (7.1 in)
Mar 25°C (77°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 7°C (45°F) 142 mm (5.6 in)
Apr 25°C (77°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 9°C (49°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
May 26°C (79°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 16°C (60°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 11°C (51°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 7°C (44°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 4°C (40°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)