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

Should you visit Moshi or Montego Bay?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi or Montego Bay, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Moshi or Montego Bay?

Moshi

Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania.


Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Moshi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $84, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $259. 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 Moshi and Montego Bay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Moshi $36
    Montego Bay $102
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Moshi $72
    Montego Bay $204
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Montego Bay

Looking for a hotel in Moshi or Montego Bay? 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 Moshi


Hotels in Montego Bay


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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Moshi $17
    Montego Bay $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi

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

  • Private Airport transfers from any hotel in Zanzibar (Departures): $30
  • Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi: $49
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
  • Kilimanjaro Airport JRO Private Taxi Transfer: $55
  • Reliable Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $55
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
  • Tanzania Private Airport Transfer: $67
  • Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $82
  • Moshi to Arusha or Arusha to Moshi Transfer (Intercity transfer): $93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • Zoetry Montego Bay Airport Transfers MBJ (Private Roundtrip Exclusive): $180
  • Zoëtry Resorts Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $20
  • VIP Runaway Bay Transfer: $160
  • VIP Private Airport Transfer Montego Bay: $20
  • VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $74
  • VIP Airport Transfer to Hotel in Montego Bay: $30
  • Tryall / Round Hill Private Transfer: $40
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay APT-HTL (MBJ): $37
  • Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
  • Transfer from/to Airport, Riu Reggae, Riu Montego Bay, Riu Palace: $28
  • Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Runaway Bay: $172
  • Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Montego Bay?

Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Moshi 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
    Moshi $34
    Montego Bay $142

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi

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

  • Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
  • Kilimanjaro : Cooking, Brew, Hiking & Feast in Materuni Village: $70
  • Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi with a Local Family: $79
  • Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $109
  • Spice Picking with Zanzibar Cooking Class: $193
  • 3 Days Chaga Culture: Cooking, NGO Projects, Banana Beer, Hiking: $199

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 Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
  • 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
  • Glistening Bioluminescent Waters and Dinner at Jerk hut: $105
  • 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
  • Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
  • The Local Lime- Montego Bay Dinner and/or Nightlife Tour: $149
  • Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
  • Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
  • Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Moshi $19
    Montego Bay $31

Tours and Activities in Moshi

For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Moshi sunset experience: $12
  • Moshi City Tour: Explore the Foothill of Kilimanjaro on Foot: $20
  • Moshi/Arusha: Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour & Hot Springs: $21
  • Moshi Coffee Plantation & Chagga Culture Half-Day Tour: $25
  • Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Plantations & Banana beer experiences: $27
  • City tour and local food: $30
  • Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $30
  • Private guided tour to the night lifestyle of Moshi town: $30
  • Materuni Waterfalls Hike and Organic Coffee Brewing Half day Tour: $30
  • Visit Materuni Waterfall with Chimbo (origin) Point & Coffee Tour: $35
  • Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour and Chemka Hot Springs Day Trip: $40
  • 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50

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 Days Private Jamaica Tour: $230
  • 27/27 Lounge, Pier 1 & Margaritaville Nightlife Experience: $60
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
  • 4 Hour ATV & Horse Back Riding Private Tour (Transportation Only): $105
  • 4-Hour Catamaran Party Cruise with Open Bar from Montego Bay: $200
  • 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
  • 7 in 1 Day Jamaican Adventure with Jhadano Tours: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Moshi $3.37
    Montego Bay $13

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: $250


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moshi Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Moshi or Montego Bay?

Moshi has a larger population, and is about 89% larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Moshi and Montego Bay, 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.