A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Santa Cruz de la Sierra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Negril or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

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 de la Sierra. 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 de la Sierra?

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 de la Sierra

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Negril?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $54. 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 de la Sierra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $106
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $212
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $44
Compare Hotels in Negril and Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Looking for a hotel in Negril or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra


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 de la Sierra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.71
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

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


  • Taxi From Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay to Grand Palladium: $105
  • Airport Round-Trip Transfers To Negril From Sangster’s International Airport : $90
  • Airport transfers, private tours and excursions in Jamaica : $80
  • Azul Negril Resort Airport Transfer : $53
  • Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
  • Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer: $23
  • Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Negril Resorts Transfer: $33
  • From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Negril: $105
  • Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
  • Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $48
  • Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $40

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Taxi Ride
    $4.34
  • Mini Bus
    $0.58

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 $23
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20

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

Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:


  • Snacks
    $3.18
  • Chips
    $0.29
  • Banana
    $0.14
  • Cookies
    $1.30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $27
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

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


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $44

Tours and Activities in Negril

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.

  • Cruise Ship Excursion in Montego Bay : $41
  • From Negril/Palladium: Negril Beach and Ricks Cafe Tour: $49
  • Private Glass Bottom Boat Sight Seeing Tour Jamaica: $58
  • Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
  • Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
  • Negril Beach and Catamaran Cruise: $79
  • Negril guided day tour:7 mile beach and sunset at Ricks Cafe: $80
  • Ricks Cafe Sunset Catamaran Cruise Negril Palladium Montego Bay: $85
  • Jamwest JamCulture Tour from Negril: $89
  • Bob Marley Birth Place Nine Mile Day Tour: $94
  • Negril Catamaran Adults Only Cruise, Snorkeling and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $110
  • Must Do-Accompong Town Maroon Village Tour & Celebration from Negril: $112

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $10
    Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.59


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

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 de la Sierra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Negril or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?

Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 450 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.