Which place is cheaper, Santa Marta or Negril?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Negril or Santa Marta?
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 Marta. 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 Marta?
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 Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $139Santa Marta $32
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, while the average daily cost in Santa Marta is $32. 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 Marta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $106Santa Marta $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $212Santa Marta $28
Compare Hotels in Negril and Santa Marta
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Santa Marta? 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 Marta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.71Santa Marta $5.27
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$5.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cartagena / Santa Marta Transfer: $328
- 1.Transfer to TAYRONA park from Cartagena Private or Viceversa.: $256
- Barranquilla / Santa Marta Transfer: $236
- Exclusive transfer Santa Marta - Cartagena: $229
- Private transfer between Santa Marta and Barranquilla (or viceversa): $180
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $141
- Private Transfer Santa Marta to Palomino (or vice versa): $121
- Private Transfer: From Santa Marta to Tayrona Park (Palomino): $110
- Tayrona / Santa Marta Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $76
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Cartagena hotels: $76
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Cartagena hotels: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Santa Marta?
Prices for flights to both Santa Marta 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 $23Santa Marta $10
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 Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Walking Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $74
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $27Santa Marta $14
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 Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Chocoserrano" Chocolate Tour 1 day - Santa Marta: $115
- "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
- 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $190
- 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
- 2-Day Tour to Ancestral Heritage from Santa Marta: $190
- 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $374
- 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $330
- Amazing full day tour to Minca with a private guide: $178
- Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $192
- Aracataca And Ciénaga - Gabriel García Márquez Tour: $54
- Archeological Tour in Taironaka with River Tubing and a small Lost City: $278
- Authentic experience with the Sewiaxa Kogui community and the River 1 day.: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $10Santa Marta $6.71
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.58
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Beer$2.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Santa Marta, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Marta 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 Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta 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 Marta.
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 Marta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Santa Marta, 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.
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.