Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz. 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 Santa Cruz?
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!
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesSanta Cruz Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Santa Cruz $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $156. 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 Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $103Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $206Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Negril and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Santa Cruz? 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 Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.52Santa Cruz $40
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:
- Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $12
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril Hotel: $25
- Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $30
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Private Transfer To Grand Palladium: $33
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $34
- Private Transfer from MontegoBay Airport to Lucea/Grand Palladium: $35
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Falmouth, Grand Palladium: $35
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $35
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $37
- Montego Bay Jamaica Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Hotel: $38
- MBJ Airport Private Transfers to any Negril Hotels: $39
- MBJ Private Airport transfer to or from Negril: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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 $38Santa Cruz $70
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
- Local food tour and local fields: $164
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz.
- Capitola Friday Night Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Santa Cruz $18
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.
- ATV Adventure and Zipline with Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril: $42
- Rick's Cafe Glass Bottom Sunset Cruise: $62
- Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
- Rockland's Bird Sanctuary Tour from Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
- Seven Mile Beach and Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril Jamaica: $75
- Private Negril Highlights Tour: $75
- Martha Brae River Bamboo Rafting Tour: $75
- Choose Your Adventure: ATV, Zipline, Horseback Ride & Rafting: $80
- Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe: $82
- Off-road ATV Adventure with Wall Climbing: $85
- 3 Hour Day Party Pass for Tourists at Jamaica Countryside Estate: $85
- Negril Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Snorkeling, Drinks & DJ: $89
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Alpaca Walking Adventure in Scenic Carmel Valley: $85
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $220
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided eBike Tour for Small E-Bike Groups: $110
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided Electric Bike Tour (eBike): $110
- Santa Cruz Guided eBike Ride & Most Fun Bike e-Bike Tour: $110
- Santa Cruz Ice Cream Tour 4 Stops Samples Full Scoops: $80
- Downtown & Mission Hill Walking Tour: $42
- Guided eBike Tour: $120
- Ice Cream Tour with 4 Dessert Stops: $80
- Surf History and Culture Walking Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.89Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $25
When comparing the travel costs between Negril and Santa Cruz, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz and Negril during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Negril because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Negril is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNegril 27°C (81°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Negril or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Negril is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Negril gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Negril usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNegril 27°C (81°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Negril or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Negril as well as Santa Cruz. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Negril is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Negril in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).
Negril usually gets less rain in January than Santa Cruz. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNegril 25°C (77°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Negril or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
Both Santa Cruz and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches.
In April, Negril is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
It's quite rainy in Negril. In April, Negril usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNegril 26°C (79°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Negril
| Negril | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
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.