A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Joshua Tree National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Negril or Joshua Tree National Park?

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 Joshua Tree National Park. 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 Joshua Tree National Park?

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!

Joshua Tree National Park

California's high desert has a unique landscape and has become synonymous with Joshua Tree, located in southeastern California. Joshua Tree National Park gained its namesake from its spiky, evergreen, and unusually shaped trees native to the Mojave Desert area, which only grow in arid soils on plains, slopes and mesas. Legend has it that Mormons in the 19th century came across the trees and thought they resembled Joshua from the Bible, with outstretched arms, beckoning them to the promised land. Well, they do kind of look like people.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Joshua Tree National Park or Negril?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Negril Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Joshua Tree National Park Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Negril $153
    Joshua Tree National Park $177

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Joshua Tree National Park is $177. 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 Joshua Tree National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $104
    Joshua Tree National Park $87
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $208
    Joshua Tree National Park $174
Compare Hotels in Negril and Joshua Tree National Park

Looking for a hotel in Negril or Joshua Tree National Park? 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.

Hotels in Negril


Hotels in Joshua Tree National Park


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.54
    Joshua Tree National Park $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:


  • 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
  • South Coast Jamaica Private Transfer with WiFi and Snacks: $150
  • Sandals South Coast Private Transfer (White House): $83
  • Round-trip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort & Spa: $75
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Joshua Tree National Park?

Prices for flights to both Joshua Tree National Park 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Negril $38
    Joshua Tree National Park $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $26
    Joshua Tree National Park $27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 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
  • Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $146
  • 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
  • Boat tour: $123
  • Catamaran, ATV and Horse Back Riding/Swim Day Tour: $55
  • Dune Buggies Experience and Mayfield falls: $276
  • Dunn's River Falls Tour from Lucea: $172

Tours and Activities in Joshua Tree National Park

For Joshua Tree National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From San Diego: Joshua Tree National Park Private Tour: $998
  • Rappelling Experience: $255

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $9.92
    Joshua Tree National Park $4.93

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 comparing the travel costs between Negril and Joshua Tree National Park, we can see that Joshua Tree National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Joshua Tree National Park is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Joshua Tree National Park Expensive?.