Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Negril?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Negril or Montanita?
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 Montanita. 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 Montanita?
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!
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $139Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $106Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $212Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Negril and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Montanita? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.71Montanita $39
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:
- Royalton Negril Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $280
- Montego Bay: Private Transfer from Airport to Negril: $250
- Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
- Private Airport transfer to/from all hotels in Negril round trip: $170
- Montego Bay Airport Transfers to Negril Hotels: $134
- Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
- Transfers between Montego Bay Airport and Negril Hotels: $107
- Private Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels : $107
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Negril: $105
- Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay to Grand Palladium: $105
- Airport Round-Trip Transfers To Negril From Sangster’s International Airport : $90
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort in Jamaica: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $23Montanita $28
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 $27Montanita $31
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $10Montanita $7.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Montanita, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Montanita 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Negril or Montanita?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Negril or Montanita in the Summer?
Both Montanita and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Negril. In July, Negril usually receives more rain than Montanita. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Negril gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Negril is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in Negril in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNegril 27°C (81°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Negril or Montanita in the Autumn?
Both Montanita and Negril during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Negril because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Negril. In the autumn, Negril often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Negril gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.
In October, Negril is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNegril 27°C (81°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Negril or Montanita in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Negril usually receives less rain than Montanita. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Negril, it's very sunny this time of the year. Negril usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. Negril gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.
Negril is around the same temperature as Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNegril 25°C (77°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Negril or Montanita in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Negril as well as Montanita. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Negril receives a lot of rain in the spring. Negril usually gets more rain in April than Montanita. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Negril this time of the year. In the spring, Negril often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Negril gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Negril is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in Negril in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNegril 26°C (79°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and Negril
| Negril | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.