Which place is cheaper, Banos or Negril?
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 Negril or Banos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Banos. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Negril or Banos?
Negril
Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesBanos Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $150Banos $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $150, while the average daily cost in Banos is $57. 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 Negril and Banos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $102Banos $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $204Banos $32
Compare Hotels in Negril and Banos
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Banos? 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: Negril Hotel Prices and Banos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.39Banos $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:
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Taxi From Airport$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril
Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer To Negril: $60
- Azul Sensatori Jamaica Airport Transfers: $90
- Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer 1 Way: $23
- Convenient Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $75
- Exclusive Tours and Airport Transfers from (MBJ) To Negril : $50
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer : $45
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer : $40
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $200
- Grand Palladium Jamaica & Lady Hamilton MBj Airport Transfer: $60
- Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Banos?
Prices for flights to both Banos and Negril 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 dayNegril $38Banos $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner in the Sky Jamaica Round Trip Taxi & Guide only: $42
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
- Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
- Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150
- Local food tour and local fields : $164
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Banos $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril
For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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2 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- Rockland's Bird Sanctuary Tour from Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $56
- Negril Beach Experience & Rick's Cafe from Negril: $59
- Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
- Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise : $60
- Private Negril Beach Experience and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $60
- Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
- Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe : $82
- Off-road ATV Adventure with Wall Climbing: $85
- PARTY Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling Rick's Cafe ADULTS ONLY: $88
- NEGRIL CRUISE Sunset Ricks Cafe Adults only ALL HOTELS : $89
- Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise and Snorkelling: $90
- Family Catamaran Cruise from Jamwest Beach Negril Hotels: $90
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- 1 day jungle tour: $35
- 2 Days All Inclusive Napo Amazon Tour from Baños de Agua Santa: $296
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- 3 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $40
- 5-Hour Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $62
- Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Amazon Tour in Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip from Baños: $85
- Animalpark | Theme Park | Tours | naturally fun: $45
- Baths Nature and Adventure 2 Days.: $190
- Bike tour of the highest volcano in Ecuador: Chimborazo: $95
- Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.74Banos $9.74
Sample the Local Flavors in Negril
Also in Negril, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl: $26
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Banos, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Banos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Banos 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 Banos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banos 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 Negril would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Negril than you might in Banos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Banos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Banos?
Banos has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Banos, 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.