Which place is cheaper, Columbia or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ocho Rios or Columbia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Columbia, 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 Columbia?
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.
Columbia
Both the largest and capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is literally the center of everything. Geographically it is located in the middle of the state, and it is the home to the University of South Carolina, the Army's Fort Jackson, as well as a variety of museums that celebrate the city's art, history, and culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $77Columbia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in Columbia is $0.00. 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 Columbia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52Columbia -
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104Columbia $0.00
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Columbia
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Columbia? 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Columbia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.60Columbia -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ian Fleming Ocho Rios Airport Private Transfer to Ocho Rios Hotel: $15
- Ocho Rios or Runaway Bay 2-Hour Shopping Transfer: $15
- Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios: $20
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
- AirBnB Roundtrip Shuttle / One Way MBJ Airport Transfers: $25
- Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
- Relaxing Montego Bay To Ducanon and Juwel Runaway Bay Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer Roundtrip Jamaica MBJ: $29
- Private Airport Transfer from MBJ to Ocho Rios: $30
- Private Airport transfer from Montego Bay To Ocho Rios .: $30
- Private Transfer to ATV dirt road Adventures.: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Columbia?
Prices for flights to both Columbia 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 dayOcho Rios $17Columbia $5.03
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:
- From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
- Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
- Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
- The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
- Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Columbia -
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$5.47
-
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.
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Private Blue Hole and Shopping Tour from Ocho Rios: $30
- Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios with Pickup: $40
- Blue Hole And Konoko Falls Combo Tour From Ocho Rios & Runaway Bay!: $43
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Half-Day Blue Hole and Secret Falls Tour from Runaway Bay: $46
- Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $49
- Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Blue Hole Secret Falls and Shopping: $50
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
- Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
- Private Ocho Rios highlights and beach day tour: $51
- Shared Pub Dash Tour in Ocho Rios: $55
Tours and Activities in Columbia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Columbia are as follows:
- Soda City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Columbia: $12
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.71Columbia $88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Columbia, we can see that Ocho Rios is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands and Columbia is in North 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 Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia 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 Ocho Rios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocho Rios than you might in Columbia.
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 Columbia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Columbia?
Columbia has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Columbia, 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 Ocho Rios or Columbia?
Columbia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ocho Rios experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Columbia in the Summer?
Both Columbia and Ocho Rios during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Columbia for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Ocho Rios is generally around the same temperature as Columbia. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 29°C (83°F), and Columbia fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ocho Rios. In the summer, Ocho Rios often gets less sunshine than Columbia. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun.
Columbia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in July than Columbia. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)Columbia 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Columbia in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Columbia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Columbia because of the shopping scene.
Ocho Rios is much warmer than Columbia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia during autumn. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Ocho Rios gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than Columbia. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)Columbia 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Columbia in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Columbia. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Columbia this time of year.
In the winter, Ocho Rios is much warmer than Columbia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ocho Rios in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Columbia averages at about 45°F (7°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the winter, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than Columbia. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in January than Columbia. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)Columbia 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Columbia in the Spring?
Both Columbia and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year.
In April, Ocho Rios is generally a little warmer than Columbia. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 26°C (80°F), and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Columbia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives less sunshine than Columbia during spring. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Columbia. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)Columbia 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Columbia and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | Columbia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 2.6 inches (67 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.