Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ocho Rios or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or La Serena, 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $77La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52La Serena $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.60La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Round Trip Transfers from MBJ: $125
- Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels: $228
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
- Riu Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer: $80
- Relaxing Montego Bay To Ducanon and Juwel Runaway Bay Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer to Yaaman Adventure Park from Ocho Rios: $60
- Private Transfer to White River Tubing Ocho Rios: $40
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
- Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
- Private Transfer to Beach Horse Back Ride and Swim: $40
- Private Transfer from Ocho Rios to Sangster Airport MBJ: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $17La Serena $27
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
- Private Hillside Cooking Class Jamaican Style with Pickup : $104
- 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 $15La Serena $24
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.
- Authentic Jamaican Bamboo Rafting Tour from Runaway Bay: $194
- Black River Safari & YS Falls Tour from Runaway Bay: $285
- Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour from Ocho Rios: $77
- Full-Day Tour to Blue Hole Falls with Horseback Ride from Montego Bay: $220
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios : $30
- Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels : $65
- ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS : $190
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $275
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride Guided Tour from Montego Bay: $135
- All day Tour of Ocho Rios : $200
- Bamboo Rafting in Ocho Rios Private Experience: $207
- Bamboo Rafting on the Lethe great/river(:),tour: $120
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.71La Serena $22
When comparing the travel costs between Ocho Rios and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands and La Serena is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and La Serena, 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 La Serena?
La Serena 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 La Serena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round.
In the summer, Ocho Rios is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocho Rios in July average around 29°C (83°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena 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 La Serena during summer. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or La Serena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as La Serena. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Ocho Rios is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 28°C (82°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the autumn, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than La Serenain April. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ocho Rios usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year.
Ocho Rios is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or La Serena in the Spring?
Both La Serena and Ocho Rios during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Ocho Rios is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocho Rios in April average around 26°C (80°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Ocho Rios. In the spring, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
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.