Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
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.
Santa Cruz
On the central coast of California in between Monterey Bay and San Jose lies Santa Cruz, California, a laid-back coastal college town with a reputation of locals open to liberal views and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Among its residents are University of California, Santa Cruz students, a large artist colony, and professional surfers.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $77Santa Cruz $126
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz is $126. 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 Santa Cruz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52Santa Cruz $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104Santa Cruz $122
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Santa Cruz
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz? 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 Santa Cruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.60Santa Cruz $40
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 Santa Cruz?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz 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
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Food Meals for one dayOcho Rios $17Santa Cruz $41
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Santa Cruz $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.47
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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 Santa Cruz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santa Cruz are as follows:
- Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $30
- Capitola Watercolor Journaling Experience: $297
- Half Day Private Beach Tour in Santa Cruz: $35
- Mermaid Experience & Photoshoot: $190
- Santa Cruz 2Hour Guided E-bike Tour for Small Groups: $120
- Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Guided E-Bike Ride & Most Fun Ebike Tour: $120
- Santa Cruz Must Sees: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $3.99
- Santa Cruz:City Scavenger Hunt Tour with Remote Guide: $25
- Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories : $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.71Santa Cruz $8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Santa Cruz:
- Sidecar Wine Tour with Guide and Wine Tasting: $199
- Private Brewery Tour: $500
- Private Custom Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup: $750
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Santa Cruz, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz in the Summer?
Both Santa Cruz 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, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Ocho Rios is a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocho Rios in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 67°F (19°C).
Ocho Rios usually gets more rain in July than Santa Cruz. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)Santa Cruz 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Santa Cruz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In October, Ocho Rios is generally much warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Ocho Rios gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)Santa Cruz 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Santa Cruz. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year.
Ocho Rios is much warmer than Santa Cruz in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).
Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in January than Santa Cruz. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)Santa Cruz 51°F (10°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Santa Cruz in the Spring?
Both Santa Cruz 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 travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches.
In the spring, Ocho Rios is much warmer than Santa Cruz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocho Rios in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Santa Cruz averages at about 58°F (14°C).
In April, Ocho Rios usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Cruz. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)Santa Cruz 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | Santa Cruz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1 inches (26 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 inches (53 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.