Which place is cheaper, Cozumel 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 Cozumel?
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 Cozumel. 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 Cozumel?
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!
Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesCozumel Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Cozumel $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $124. 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 Cozumel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $103Cozumel $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $206Cozumel $128
Compare Hotels in Negril and Cozumel
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Cozumel? 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 Cozumel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.53Cozumel $21
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:
- Private Airport Transfer: Kingston to Grand Palladium Resort: $240
- Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $200
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain Jamaica From Negril Hotels: $200
- Private, Round-Trip Negril Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfers-Negril and Runaway Bay hotels(Round Trip): $180
- Private Transfer from Negril to Jamaica (MBJ) Airport: $167
- Luxury Transfer: Montego Bay Airport - Negril & Ocho Rios Resorts: $160
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer Negril Hotels: $141
- Private Transfer From Montego Bay Airport to Negril: $140
- Private Customizable Transfer from Sangster Intl Airport - Negril: $140
- Montego Bay Airport Transfers to Negril Hotels: $134
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Round Trip Transfer Point A to Point B: $190
- Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel Island Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
- Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
- KUZÁ Beach Escape with Cancun & Riviera Maya Transfer: $141
- Private Transfer from Cozumel Airport: $110
- Cozumel Airport Private Round-Trip Transfer: $106
- Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $96
- Jade Cavern ATV Tour in Cozumel with Beach Break with transfer: $86
- Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Wild Jade Cavern ATV Tour With Transfer: $70
- Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Cozumel?
Prices for flights to both Cozumel 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 $38Cozumel $38
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
- Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel
For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
- Private Mexican Trompitos Cooking Class in Cozumel: $82
- Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day: $89
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: Street Tacos and Local Market: $109
- Romantic Gourmet Dinner Experience at Pirate Ship in Cozumel: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Cozumel $41
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.
- 3 Hour Day Party Pass for Tourists at Jamaica Countryside Estate: $85
- ATV's, Shopping, Seven Mile Beach,Catamaran Cruise to Ricks Cafe: $130
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
- Appleton Estate Rum and Black River Safari Private Tour: $185
- Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
- Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $140
- Bambuza ATV, Zipline and Horseback Adventure from Negril: $190
- Black River Safari and YS Falls Tour from Negril: $232
- Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
- Bob Marley Museum Tour From Negril Hotel: $215
- Customize Day Tour In Ochi (Horseback Riding,Rafting,Blue Hole, Dunns River ): $134
- Dune Buggies Experience and Mayfield falls: $276
Tours and Activities in Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- 10 Experiences Original: $221
- 2 Hours ATV Jungle, Caverns and Mayan Ruins Tour: $80
- 4 Hour Cozumel Turtle Sanctuary Experience on a Luxury Catamarán: $74
- 4 Hour Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel: $65
- 4-Hour Private Tour in Cozumel with Pickup: $95
- A Pirate's Adventure in Cozumel with Captain Draco: $100
- ATV Adventure of Jade Cave El Cedral with Tequila Tasting: $90
- ATV Adventure to Mayan Jade Cavern plus Snorkeling and Lunch: $79
- ATV Jungle Adventure to Hidden Mayan Ruins and Caves: $89
- ATV Seashore + Cenote Combo: Mezcalitos & Mayan Cenote Experience: $80
- ATV Tour El Viejo y Yo Beach Pass with Lunch, Snorkel and Kayaks: $110
- ATV Tour and Cenote Experience in Cozumel: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.90Cozumel $10
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:
- Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $51
- Downtown Cozumel & Brewery: $79
- Cozumel's First Distillery: Exclusive Craft Rum & Gin Tasting: $99
- Cozumel 5-Hour Private Bar Crawl Tour: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Cozumel, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Cozumel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Cozumel 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 Cozumel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cozumel 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 Cozumel.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Cozumel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Cozumel?
Cozumel has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Cozumel, 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.