Which place is cheaper, Boquete 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 Boquete?
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 Boquete. 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 Boquete?
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!
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Boquete $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $104Boquete $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $208Boquete $44
Compare Hotels in Negril and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Boquete? 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 Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.55Boquete $5.22
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:
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril Hotel: $21
- Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $30
- Grand Palladium Hotel Transfer from Montego Bay Jamaica Airport: $35
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Falmouth, Grand Palladium: $35
- Private Transfer from MontegoBay Airport to Lucea/Grand Palladium: $35
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $35
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $36
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $37
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
- Montego Bay Airport Transfers Private Taxi to Hotels in Negril: $40
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boquete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boquete:
- Private transfer from Boquete to Bocas del Toro: $165
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete 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 $39Boquete $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
- Local food tour and local fields: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Boquete $17
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$43
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- ATV Adventure and Zipline with Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril: $42
- Seven Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril Jamaica: $50
- Rick's Cafe Glass Bottom Sunset Cruise: $62
- Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
- Martha Brae River Bamboo Rafting Tour: $67
- Rockland's Bird Sanctuary Tour from Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
- Private Guided 2-Hour Tour in Montego Bay: $77
- Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe: $82
- Off-road ATV Adventure with Wall Climbing: $85
- 3 Hour Day Party Pass for Tourists at Jamaica Countryside Estate: $85
- NEGRIL CATAMARAN CRUISE Sunset Ricks Cafe ALL HOTELS: $89
- Negril Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Snorkeling, Drinks & DJ: $89
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $55
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete Rock climbing tour: $80
- Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
- Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
- Family Tour (Experiences in caldera): $85
- Guided E-Bike Panoramic Tour: $75
- Guided Hike and Coffee Farm Tour with Tasting: $99
- Hands-On Coffee Experience with Tasting: $40
- Chasing Waterfalls Adventure in Boquete: $100
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.93Boquete $4.45
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Boquete, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Boquete 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Boquete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Boquete?
Boquete has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Boquete, 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.