Which place is cheaper, Ensenada 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 Ensenada?
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 Ensenada. 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 Ensenada?
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!
Ensenada
Ensenada is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Tijuana. It's the only deep water port in the state of Baja California and as such, it is an important commerical fishing port as well as a cruise ship destination. The city has a population of almost 500,000 and is located just 78 miles south of San Diego. The city sits between the ocean and a small mountain range. The surrounding area is known for its wine production, which produces some of the best wine in Mexico.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesEnsenada Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Ensenada $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Ensenada is $116. 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 Ensenada in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $103Ensenada $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $206Ensenada $86
Compare Hotels in Negril and Ensenada
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Ensenada? 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 Ensenada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.53Ensenada $19
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:
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to AZUL, ROYALTON, RIU, HEDONISM: $53
- Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay to Grand Palladium: $105
- Airport Transfer To Negril Hotel: $67
- Airport Transfer to Negril Hotels (Round-Trip): $100
- Airport Transfers To Grand Palladium Hotel (Round-Trip): $75
- Azul Negril Resort Airport Transfer: $53
- Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $200
- Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $15
- Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $48
- Grand Palladium Private Transfer: $73
- Grand Palladium and Princess Grand Private Airport Transfers: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ensenada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ensenada:
- Private transfer from Ensenada to Tijuana Airport: $140
- Border and Tijuana Airport Transfers to Ensenada or Valle de Guadalupe: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Ensenada?
Prices for flights to both Ensenada 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 $38Ensenada $62
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 Ensenada
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ensenada.
- Cooking Class and Margarita Madness at Valle de Guadalupe: $95
- Wine & Food Tour All Included — Original Wine Route: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Ensenada $9.92
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.
- Reto tours jamaica taxi service: $20
- Horseback Riding/Swim, Catamaran and ATV Day Tour: $55
- Negril 7 mile beach and Ricks Cafe Tour: $55
- Negril Seven Mile Beach & Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour Negril Jamaica: $60
- Private Negril Beach Experience and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $60
- Rick's Cafe Glass Bottom Sunset Cruise: $65
- Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
- Jamwest Motorsports & adventure park tour from Negril: $70
- Martha Brae River Bamboo Rafting Tour: $75
- Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
- Private Guided 2-Hour Tour in Montego Bay: $77
- 3 Hour Day Party Pass for Tourists at Jamaica Countryside Estate: $85
Tours and Activities in Ensenada
Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 8 Hour Private Tour 4 - 7 passengers: $196
- ATV Adventure in Ensenada with Transportation: $110
- ATV Hot Water Springs Tour: $171
- ATV Mountain Tour: $85
- ATV Off-Road Adventure through Valle de Guadalupe + Winery Visit: $77
- Adventure Tour in Kayak at La Bufadora with Lobster, Oyster Feast: $150
- Adventure in Ensenada with Zipline, Marine Geyser and Shops: $99
- Adventure+ Relax: Zipline or ATV + Massage with Port Pickup: $145
- Best Sites: Blowhole+ City Tour, Tacos Custom Shore Excurison: $59
- Canopy Ziplines Tour in Las Cañadas Private Tour: $89
- Complete Experience: Wine, beer and lavender | Rondo del Valle: $120
- Ensenada ATV and Horseback Riding Combo Adventure: $180
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.90Ensenada $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 Ensenada
Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Experience in Maglén: $27
- Wine tasting in private gardens overlooking the vineyards: $55
- Tractor Pull Around Vineyards and Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Private wine tour: $57
- Wine Tasting Among Vineyards with Panoramic Views of the Valley: $65
- Valle de Guadalupe Vineyard Wagon Tour & Wine Tasting: $79
- Classic Valle Guadalupe Wine Tour — Tastings Included: $135
- wine tours and driver service through valle de guadalupe, Ensenada B.C. Mexico: $150
- Valle de Guadalupe Couples Wine Tour: $165
- Wine Tasting Tour ONLY for Cruise Ship Visitors. ALL INCLUSIVE!: $208
- Private Curated Wine Tour in Valle de Guadalupe: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Ensenada, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Ensenada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Ensenada 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 Ensenada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ensenada 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 Ensenada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Ensenada Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Ensenada?
Ensenada has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Ensenada, 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.