Which place is cheaper, Cabarete 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 Cabarete?
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 Cabarete. 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 Cabarete?
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!
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesCabarete Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Cabarete $180
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Cabarete is $180. 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 Cabarete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $104Cabarete $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $208Cabarete $148
Compare Hotels in Negril and Cabarete
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Cabarete? 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 Cabarete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.54Cabarete $42
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:
- Transfers between Montego Bay Airport and Negril Hotels: $107
- Sangster International Airport to Negril Footprintson Transfer: $53
- Sandals South Coast Private Transfer (White House): $83
- Royalton Negril Round-trip Private Transfers: $70
- Round-trip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort & Spa: $75
- Round trip airport hotel transfer MBJ-Negril: $125
- Private, Round-Trip Negril Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfers: Montego Bay Airport ↔ Sandals Southcoast: $100
- Private Transfers-Negril and Runaway Bay hotels(Round Trip): $180
- Private Transfer to dunns river falls And Blue Hole: $83
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain Jamaica From Negril Hotels: $200
- Private Transfer to Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Transfer privado from cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport: $49
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Cabarete?
Prices for flights to both Cabarete 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 $38Cabarete $72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Cabarete $53
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's, Shopping, Seven Mile Beach,Catamaran Cruise to Ricks Cafe: $130
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
- Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
- Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $161
- Bambuza ATV, Zipline and Horseback Adventure from Negril: $190
- Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
- Boat tour: $123
- Dune Buggies Experience and Mayfield falls: $276
- Dunn's River Falls Tour from Lucea: $172
- Dunn's River Falls and Luminous Lagoon Guided Tour from Grand Palladium: $190
- Dunns River Falls and Blue Hole Combo Lucea Tour: $165
- Explore Montego Bay Jamaica to Blue Hole/Secret Falls River Tour: $150
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 27 Waterfalls: Zip 'n Splash Adventure with Horse Ride: $125
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $127
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $45
- Excursions 3 in 1 Monkey Home Waterfalls And City Tours: $104
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Jamao al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $80
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Private Deep-Sea Fishing Adventure in Puerto Plata: $759
- Private tour: Dudu cenotes + Playa Grande Beach + much more: $220
- Private: Cabarete ATV Countryside & Beach Adventure: $127
- Puerto Plata Buggy & ATV Tour: River, Beach and Free Pick-Up: $152
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.92Cabarete $17
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 Cabarete, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is Negril much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Negril would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Negril 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 Cabarete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabarete than you might in Negril.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Cabarete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Cabarete?
Cabarete has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Cabarete, 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.