Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Paphos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Paphos or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos or Montego Bay, 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: Paphos or Montego Bay?
Paphos
Located on the southwestern tip of Cyprus, Paphos has many different archaeological sights and it is renowned as the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The town is situated between the coast and the Troodos Mountains and it has grown in recent years as a tourist destination. As such, the local government has made efforts to improve the quality of the tourism infrastructure including investing in hotels, restaurants and transportation. There is also a commercial center to the city as well as a newly built "promenade" that travels from the marina along a long coastal path. This route offers excellent views, especially during the morning or evening hours when the sun is low.
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus.
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Paphos Prices
Cyprus PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPaphos €125Montego Bay €223
The average daily cost (per person) in Paphos is €125, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is €223. 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 Paphos and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPaphos €48Montego Bay €88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPaphos €96Montego Bay €176
Compare Hotels in Paphos and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Paphos or Montego Bay? 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: Paphos Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paphos €12Montego Bay €13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paphos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paphos:
- Blue Lagoon Boat Cruise with Bus Transfer: $30
- Paphos Blue Lagoon Cruise: Slide, Music & Hotel Transfer: $34
- Blue Lagoon cruise: giant slide & Paphos hotel transfers: $34
- Paphos to Paphos Int Airport (PFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Adonis Baths Waterfall Morning Transfer: $45
- Blue Lagoon: 3 Hours Afternoon Cruise with transfer from Paphos: $46
- Private Transfer from Paphos Airport (PFO) to Limassol Port: $58
- Private Transfer from Paphos city hotels to Limassol Cruise Port: $58
- From Nicosia Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Transfer: $70
- Choirokitia & Famagusta Guided Tour with Transfers: $80
- Paphos Airport (PFO) to Paphos city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $85
- Ocean Vision: Show & Dance Night with buffet, open bar & transfer: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- 2727lounge/Magarativille/Pier1 & taboo nightlife private transfer: $45
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14
- Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Private Transfer: $97
- Airport (MBJ) Round Trip Transfer in Montego Bay: $60
- Airport - Ocho Rios Hotels Transfers and Returns: $260
- Airport MBJ Round Trip Transfers, to Montego Bay Airbnb & Resorts: $53
- Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $30
- Airport Private Transfers from Montego Bay to Hilton Rose Hall: $21
- Airport Transfer: $80
- Airport Transfer MBJ Montego Bay to Kingston: $150
- Airport Transfer To Dreams Rose Hall: $60
- Airport Transfer To Grand Bahia Principe Hotel: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Paphos 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 dayPaphos €65Montego Bay €122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paphos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paphos.
- From Sunset Drink at Aphrodite's Rock & Folk Dinner: $62
- Wave Dancer Fireworks, Buffet Dinner & Show Cruise: $73
- Cyprus: Cooking Class-Mousaka, Tzatziki & Greek Salad: $88
- Moussaka Cooking Class at a Wine Village Villa in Paphos: $223
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $50
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
- Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175
- Authentic Jamaican Cooking Experience in the Mountain from mobay: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paphos €12Montego Bay €27
Tours and Activities in Paphos
Here are a few actual costs in Paphos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- The Yellow Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise Swim & Snorkel: $23
- From Limassol Experience: $29
- Blue Lagoon Cruise with Sightseeing from Latchi Harbour: $29
- Nafsika II Half Day Cruise Swimming to blue lagoon water slide: $29
- Blue Lagoon (Akamas) Bus & Boat Tour with Water Slide From Paphos: $39
- Akamas, Baths of Aphrodite and Blue Lagoon Day Tour: $41
- Swim Cruise with Turtle Watching, Drinks & Aperol: $41
- Sunset Cruise with BBQ, Swimming, and Kayaking: $41
- Yellow Submarine Swim Cruise with Unlimited Drinks: $41
- Turtle Watching Cruise,Snorkelling Adventure &Sunset: $41
- Swim Cruise with Turtle Watching, Drinks & Aperol Spritz: $41
- Half Day Tour Blue Lagoon with Water Slide and Snorkeling: $41
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach€2.30
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Snorkeling Trip€16
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One Tank Dive€32
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride€37
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Souvenirs and Gift shopping Tour in Montego Bay: $20
- Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
- Margaritaville Hip-Strip and Great River Rafting Private Tour: $20
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
- Doctor Cave Beach and Hip Strip Shopping from Cruise Ship: $30
- Rose Hall Great House and Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Adventure and Activity Based Music and Nightlife and Nature: $30
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
- Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Ricks Cafe and Negril Seven Miles Beach Irie Tour: $35
- Half-Day Private Guided Ricks Café & Negril Seven Mile Beach Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPaphos €9.98Montego Bay €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Paphos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paphos:
- Wine tasting and winery tour at Fikardos Winery: $40
- Paphos Highlights Baths of Aphrodite's and Wine Tasting Tour: $57
- Paphos - Troodos Mountains 4x4 Tour with Free Wine Tasting: $70
- Troodos Mountains Jeep Tour with Wine Tasting: $73
- Wine tasting on-board the Demetris Chara BBQboat BlueLagoon tours: $88
- Local Wineries Tour with Wine Tastings: $111
- Troodos Mountains Vino Venture: All Inclusive Full Day Wine Tour: $139
- Private Wine Tour with Tastings and Winery Visits: $762
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paphos and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Paphos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paphos is in Europe and Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Paphos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paphos 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 Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay than you might in Paphos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paphos Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paphos or Montego Bay?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Paphos. When comparing the sizes of Paphos and Montego Bay, 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 Paphos or Montego Bay?
Paphos has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Montego Bay experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Paphos or Montego Bay in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Paphos and Montego Bay. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paphos this time of year. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Paphos is around the same temperature as Montego Bay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Paphos in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In Paphos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Paphos usually receives more sunshine than Montego Bay during summer. Paphos gets 388 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Paphos usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Paphos gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPaphos 27°C (80°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Paphos or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Paphos as well as Montego Bay. Many travelers come to Paphos for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
In October, Paphos is generally cooler than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Paphos average around 21°C (70°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Paphos this time of the year. In the autumn, Paphos often gets more sunshine than Montego Bay. Paphos gets 270 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. Paphos usually gets less rain in October than Montego Bay. Paphos gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPaphos 21°C (70°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Paphos or Montego Bay in the Winter?
Both Montego Bay and Paphos are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Paphos in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Paphos is much colder than Montego Bay in the winter. The daily temperature in Paphos averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Paphos usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during winter. Paphos gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Paphos usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montego Bay. Paphos gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPaphos 12°C (53°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Paphos or Montego Bay in the Spring?
Both Montego Bay and Paphos during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Paphos for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In the spring, Paphos is cooler than Montego Bay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Paphos in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Paphos. In the spring, Paphos often gets more sunshine than Montego Bay. Paphos gets 270 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun.
Paphos usually gets less rain in April than Montego Bay. Paphos gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPaphos 17°C (62°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Paphos
| Paphos | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (62°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 13°C (56°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.