Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Negril?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Negril or Puerto Viejo?
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 Puerto Viejo. 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 Puerto Viejo?
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!
Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesPuerto Viejo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Puerto Viejo $186
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $186. 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 Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $104Puerto Viejo $78
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $208Puerto Viejo $156
Compare Hotels in Negril and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Puerto Viejo? 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 Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.55Puerto Viejo $42
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
- Sandals South Coast Private Transfer (White House): $83
- Royalton Negril Resort Airport Transfer: $53
- Roundtrip Transfer To or From Jam West Adventure: $100
- Round-trip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort & Spa: $75
- 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 Bambuza Park From Negril Hotels: $55
- Private Transfer from Sangster Intl Airport to Negril Jamaica: $60
- Private Transfer from MontegoBay Airport to Lucea/Grand Palladium: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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 dayNegril $39Puerto Viejo $64
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
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
- Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150
- Local food tour and local fields: $164
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Puerto Viejo $86
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.
- ATV Adventure and Zipline with Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril: $42
- ATV's, Shopping, Seven Mile Beach,Catamaran Cruise to Ricks Cafe: $130
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour: $140
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
- Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $161
- Bambuza ATV, Zipline and Horseback Adventure from Negril: $190
- Blue Hole Secret Falls and Dunns River Falls Adventure: $134
- Boat tour: $123
- Bob Marley's Nine Mile Day-Trip w/Admission & Guided Tour from Grand Palladium: $145
- Dune Buggies Experience and Mayfield falls: $276
- Dunn's River Falls Tour from Lucea: $172
- Dunn's River Falls and Luminous Lagoon Guided Tour from Grand Palladium: $190
Tours and Activities in Puerto Viejo
For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dolphin Watching & Netflix Featured Organic Jungle Farm Tour: $88
- Epic Manzanillo Combo Tour: Snorkel, Dolphins & Farm Tour: $119
- Kayaking Tour in Gandoca Lagoon throug mangrove forest: $50
- Night Adventure in the Wild Talamanca: $85
- Puerto Viejo Limón: Best Canopy Tour / Ziplines: $83
- Puerto Viejo Limón: Birdwatching Tour at Nativo Park: $50
- Puerto Viejo Talamanca: Quad Tour with 2 Waterfalls: $310
- Puerto Viejo&Cahuita: Tour of 3 Waterfalls, Talamanca, Limón: $149
- Canoe Adventure & Caribbean Family Experience: $47
- Indigenous Experience & Chocolate Tour: $74
- Wildlife Night Tour in the Jungle: $55
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.93Puerto Viejo $15
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Negril much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Puerto Viejo is in Central 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 Negril would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Negril 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in Negril.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Negril or Puerto Viejo?
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 Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Negril gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Negril usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Negril, it's very sunny this time of the year. Negril usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Negril gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Negril is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Negril in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyNegril 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Negril or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Negril as well as Puerto Viejo. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. November to January in Puerto Viejo is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Negril receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Negril usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Viejo. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 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 autumn, Negril often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Negril gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
In October, Negril is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNegril 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Negril or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
Both Puerto Viejo and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In January, Negril usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Negril gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.
Negril is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNegril 25°C (77°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Negril or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejo. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Negril. In the spring, Negril often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Negril gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Negril is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Negril in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilNegril 26°C (79°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Negril
| Negril | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.