Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Negril?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Negril or La Serena?
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 La Serena. 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 La Serena?
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!
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $139La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $106La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $212La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Negril and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Negril or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.71La Serena $20
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$14
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
- Sunset at The Palms Airport Transfer: $53
- Royalton Negril Resort Airport Transfer : $53
- Royalton Negril Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $280
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
- Private Transfer to Hotels in Negril from Montego Bay Airport : $55
- Private Transfer from Negril to Sangster Airport (MBJ): $50
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport - Negril Hotels: $58
- Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Grand Palladium Hotel: $36
- Private Transfer between Hedonism ll Resort and Airport : $53
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort in Jamaica: $80
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril Hotels: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $23La Serena $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience with Optional Dinner in Montego Bay: $60
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $85
- Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
- Local food tour and local fields : $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $27La Serena $24
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$44
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- YS Falls and Sightseeing Tour Day Adventure: $138
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour: $275
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Negril: $232
- Appleton Estate Rum and Black River Safari Private Tour : $185
- Appleton Rum Factory and Black River Safari Tour: $279
- Appleton Rum Factory, YS Falls, and Reggae Horseback Ride & Swim Combo Tour: $195
- Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
- Atv Adventure and Ricks Cafe with Private Transportation: $367
- Atv Adventure and Ziplines with Private Transportation: $413
- Atv, Seven Mile Beach and Rick’s Cafe Tour & Transportation: $333
- Atv, Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe Private Tour: $293
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $10La Serena $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and La Serena, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and La Serena is in South 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 La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 La Serena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and La Serena, 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.
When is the best time to visit Negril or La Serena?
La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Negril experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Negril or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round.
In July, Negril is generally a little warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. In Negril, it's very sunny this time of the year. Negril usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during summer. Negril gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
Negril gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Negril usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryNegril 27°C (81°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Negril or La Serena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Negril as well as La Serena. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Negril is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Negril this time of the year. In the autumn, Negril often gets more sunshine than La Serenain April. Negril gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
Negril receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Negril usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilNegril 27°C (81°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Negril or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year.
In the winter, Negril is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Negril in January average around 25°C (77°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Negril gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Negril usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyNegril 25°C (77°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Negril or La Serena in the Spring?
Both La Serena and Negril during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Negril because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Negril is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Negril. In the spring, Negril often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. Negril gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberNegril 26°C (79°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Negril
| Negril | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
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.