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

Should you visit Ocho Rios or Destin?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Destin, 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 Destin?

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.

Destin

An upscale resort town located on the Florida Panhandle, Destin is best known for its white sand beaches and clear green waters, golfing opportunities, and world renowned fishing. The stretch of beach here (on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawhatchee Bay) is nicknamed Florida's Emerald Coast.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Destin or Ocho Rios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in Destin is $192. 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 Destin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    Destin $111
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    Destin $222
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Destin

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Destin? 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 Destin


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 Destin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.60
    Destin $50

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Destin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Destin:

  • Destin, FL to Pensacola International Airport (PNS) - Departure Private Transfer: $71

Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Destin?

Prices for flights to both Destin 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 $17
    Destin $51

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Destin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Destin.

  • 3 Hour Destin Dinner Cruise: Solaris Yacht in Miramar Beach: $128
  • 3 Hour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Solaris Yacht in Miramar Beach: $128
  • Mother's Day Sunset Dinner Cruise: SOLARIS Yacht Miramar Beach FL: $128

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    Destin $17
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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Destin

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Destin are as follows:


  • 1 Day Rental Umbrella and Chairs
    $40

Tours and Activities in Destin

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Destin are as follows:

  • FAMOUS Destin Dolphin Cruise & Crab Island Sandbar: $70
  • 1 Hour and 30 Minutes Harbor Sightseeing Cruise from Destin: $60
  • 3 Hour Crab Island and Dolphin Cruise from Destin : $70
  • Chakras Sound Bath Meditation Experience in Destin: $35
  • Clear Kayak Ecotour Destin Ft. Walton Beach: $75
  • Clear Kayak Glow Tour Destin Ft. Walton Beach: $75
  • Clear Kayaking Eco Adventure Tour in Marianna: $75
  • Crab Island Dolphin Jetski Adventure : $227
  • Destin Harbor Fireworks Cruise: $40
  • Destin Harbor Sunset Eco Dolphin Cruise: $35
  • Destin Private Guided Sunset Cruise up to 6 Passengers: $230
  • Crab Island Catamaran Tour with Dolphin Watching: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.71
    Destin $49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Destin, we can see that Destin is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands and Destin 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 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 Destin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Destin 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 Destin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Destin?

Destin has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Destin, 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 Destin?

Destin 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 Destin in the Summer?

Both Destin 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Destin because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as Destin. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocho Rios in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Destin averages at about 82°F (28°C).

Destin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in July than Destin. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Destin receives 7.4 inches (189 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ocho Rios 29°C (83°F) 
    Destin 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Ocho Rios or Destin in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Destin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Destin this time of year.

In October, Ocho Rios is generally a little warmer than Destin. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 28°C (82°F), and Destin fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

Destin receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ocho Rios gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than Destin. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Destin receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ocho Rios 28°C (82°F) 
    Destin 69°F (21°C)

Should I visit Ocho Rios or Destin in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Destin. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Destin for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Ocho Rios is much warmer than Destin in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Destin fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).

It's quite rainy in Destin. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in January than Destin. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Destin receives 4.6 inches (117 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ocho Rios 26°C (79°F) 
    Destin 50°F (10°C)

Should I visit Ocho Rios or Destin in the Spring?

Both Destin 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. Also, many visitors come to Destin in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Ocho Rios is a little warmer than Destin. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocho Rios in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Destin averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In April, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Destin. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Destin receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ocho Rios 26°C (80°F) 
    Destin 68°F (20°C)

Typical Weather for Destin and Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios Destin
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 50°F (10°C) 4.6 inches (117 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 54°F (12°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 60°F (16°C) 5.6 inches (143 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 74°F (23°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 80°F (27°C) 6.4 inches (163 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 82°F (28°C) 7.4 inches (189 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 82°F (28°C) 7.4 inches (188 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 79°F (26°C) 5.3 inches (135 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 69°F (21°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 61°F (16°C) 3.5 inches (90 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 54°F (12°C) 4.3 inches (109 mm)