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

Should you visit Ocho Rios or Pocono Mountains?

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

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

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.

Pocono Mountains

The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains is $174. 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 Pocono Mountains in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    Pocono Mountains $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    Pocono Mountains $178
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Pocono Mountains

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Pocono Mountains? 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 Pocono Mountains


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.60
    Pocono Mountains $49

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 Pocono Mountains?

Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains 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
    Pocono Mountains $53

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 $15
    Pocono Mountains $30
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 Pocono Mountains

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

  • Delaware Water Gap Air Tour: $141
  • Private Mount Pocono Observation Air Tour: $64

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.71
    Pocono Mountains $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Pocono Mountains, we can see that Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Pocono Mountains?

Ocho Rios has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Pocono Mountains. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Pocono Mountains, 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 Pocono Mountains?

Pocono Mountains 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 Pocono Mountains in the Summer?

Both Pocono Mountains 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, many travelers come to Pocono Mountains for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Ocho Rios is generally a little warmer than Pocono Mountains. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 29°C (83°F), and Pocono Mountains fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).

In Pocono Mountains, 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 Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pocono Mountains receives 288 hours of full sun.

Pocono Mountains gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in July than Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Ocho Rios 29°C (83°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 75°F (24°C)

Should I visit Ocho Rios or Pocono Mountains in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Pocono Mountains. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Pocono Mountains in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Ocho Rios is much warmer than Pocono Mountains in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Pocono Mountains fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than Pocono Mountains during autumn. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Pocono Mountains receives 168 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 Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Ocho Rios 28°C (82°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 55°F (13°C)

Should I visit Ocho Rios or Pocono Mountains in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Pocono Mountains for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Pocono Mountains can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Ocho Rios is much warmer than Pocono Mountains. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ocho Rios in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Pocono Mountains averages at about 28°F (-2°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 Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pocono Mountains receives 127 hours of full sun.

Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in January than Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Ocho Rios 26°C (79°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 28°F (-2°C)

Should I visit Ocho Rios or Pocono Mountains in the Spring?

Both Pocono Mountains 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, the spring months attract visitors to Pocono Mountains because of the natural beauty.

In April, Ocho Rios is generally much warmer than Pocono Mountains. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 26°C (80°F), and Pocono Mountains fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

It's quite sunny in Pocono Mountains. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than Pocono Mountains during spring. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Pocono Mountains receives 213 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Pocono Mountains. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Ocho Rios 26°C (80°F) 
    Pocono Mountains 51°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for Pocono Mountains and Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios Pocono Mountains
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 28°F (-2°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 31°F (-1°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 41°F (5°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 51°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 62°F (17°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 71°F (22°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 75°F (24°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 73°F (23°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in) 66°F (19°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 55°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 45°F (7°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 33°F (1°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)