A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ocho Rios vs. Cabarete for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ocho Rios or Cabarete?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Cabarete, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Ocho Rios or Cabarete?

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.

Cabarete

Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.

Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.


Which place is cheaper, Cabarete or Ocho Rios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $87, while the average daily cost in Cabarete is $181. 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 Ocho Rios and Cabarete in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    Cabarete $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    Cabarete $148
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Cabarete

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Cabarete? 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 Ocho Rios


Hotels in Cabarete


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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Cabarete Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.46
    Cabarete $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

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

  • VIP***Private KINGSTON Airport Transfers to***OCHO RIOS**HOTELS**: $292
  • Runaway Bay to Norman Manley Airport (KIN) - Departure Private Transfer: $126
  • Runaway Bay Hotels Transfers between Montego Bay Airport: $60
  • Runaway Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer: $53
  • Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels: $240
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
  • Riu Ocho Rios Jamaica Private Airport Transfer: $80
  • Private Transfers To/From Ocho Rios & OCJ Airport Across Jamaica: $143
  • Private Transfer to Yaaman Adventure Park from Ocho Rios: $65
  • Private Transfer to White River Tubing Ocho Rios: $45
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $40
  • Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete

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

  • Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
  • Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
  • Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
  • Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $59
  • Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
  • Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
  • Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
  • Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Cabarete?

Prices for flights to both Cabarete and Ocho Rios 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
    Ocho Rios $28
    Cabarete $72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios

For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Runaway Bay: $138
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    Cabarete $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios

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


  • Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate
    $11
  • Admission to Coyaba Gardens
    $5.37
  • Tour of Prospect Plantation
    $18

Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios

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

  • ATV Adventure and Shopping from Falmouth (Minimum 4 persons): $165
  • ATV and Dunns River Falls Adventure: $205
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting & Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $411
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $219
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride n Swim Guided Tour With Lunch: $120
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting, and Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $110
  • ATV, Dunn’s River Falls & Blue Hole Guided Tour In Jamaica: $270
  • ATV, Horseback Riding and Bluehole Adventure Tour: $189
  • All In One Full Day Tour in Saint Ann Garden Parish Jamaica: $147
  • Aqua Fun Tours Dunns Falls, River Tubing and Horse Back: $170
  • BOGO Adventure: ATV and/or Horseback Ride and Swim in Ocho Rios: $139
  • Bali Style High Ropes Swing and Dunn's River Fall Adventure: $230

Tours and Activities in Cabarete

For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $130
  • 27 Waterfalls: Zip 'n Splash Adventure with Horse Ride: $125
  • 4 Wheel Adventure: $127
  • Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
  • Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $108
  • Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $35
  • Excursions 3 in 1 Monkey Home Waterfalls And City Tours: $169
  • Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
  • Jamáo al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $250
  • Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
  • Private Deep-Sea Fishing Adventure in Puerto Plata: $759
  • Private Full Day Beach Tour in Puerto Plata: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.57
    Cabarete $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:

  • Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $90


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Cabarete, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Cabarete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabarete than you might in Ocho Rios.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Cabarete Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Cabarete?

Ocho Rios has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Cabarete, 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.