Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Porto?
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 Porto or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Porto and Montego Bay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Porto or Montego Bay?
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.
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Porto Prices
Portugal PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPorto €160Montego Bay €217
The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is €160, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is €217. 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 Porto and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPorto €72Montego Bay €85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPorto €144Montego Bay €170
Compare Hotels in Porto and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Porto 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: Porto Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Porto €21Montego Bay €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
- Madeira: Vereda do Larano Trail One-Way Transfer Service: $23
- Porto Airport Transfer: $24
- Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $30
- Madeira: Porto da Cruz to Machico Hiking Tour with Transfer: $39
- Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $64
- Funchal to Porto Moniz: Volcanic Pools Day Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer to Porto from Tarouca: $135
- Private Transfer to Lisbon from Tarouca: $293
- Private transfer between Porto and Algarve with 1 stop: $558
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Kingston: One Way Private Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $319
- Private Airport Transfers To and From Kingston (KIN) Airport: $200
- Horseback Ride/Swim and Blue Hole Falls Daytrip with Transfers: $190
- Green Grato Caves and Dunns River Falls with Private Transfer : $180
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting Tour with Private Transfer: $135
- Club Mobay VIP Lounge Access and Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $113
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
- Experience Jamaica Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $100
- Airport Transfer Service In Montego bay: $95
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Porto or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Porto 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 dayPorto €63Montego Bay €119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Porto Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option: $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Porto €25Montego Bay €26
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Porto Six Bridges Panoramic Cruise on the Douro River: $21
- Experience Porto's Charm: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Porto Sunset River Cruise: Douro Magic at Dusk: $35
- Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine and Snacks: $48
- Porto Douro River Sightseeing Sailing Cruise at Sunset or Daytime: $48
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
- Tour on the Douro River in a Classic Boat: $54
- Sunset or Daytime, Charming Sailboat Cruise on the Douro River: $54
- 6 Bridges cruise , Douro river with sunset option: $54
- Aveiro and Costa Nova Half Day Tour from Porto with Boat Ride: $55
- Luxury Yacht Tour on the Douro River - Sunset or Daytime: $58
- Fun Private Tuk Tuk Tour: $66
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€2.24
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Snorkeling Trip€16
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One Tank Dive€31
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride€36
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
- Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
- Private Dolphin Cove Adventure : $250
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 3 Hours Private Highlights Tour & Shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica: $100
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- ATV Adventure and Rick's Cafe Tour with Transportation: $238
- ATV Jungle Safari Tour from Montego Bay: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPorto €19Montego Bay €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Luxury Yacht Cruise with Wine Tasting & Snacks: $54
- Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings | 12 Participants Maximum: $60
- Port Wine Lodges Tour Including 7 Port Wine Tastings (English): $62
- Authentic Food and Wine Tour in Porto by Food Lover Tour: $81
- Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, Cruise and Lunch from Porto : $96
- Douro Valley Wine Tour: 3 Vineyard Visits, Wine Tastings, Lunch: $113
- Complete Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch, Wine Tastings and River Cruise: $118
- Douro Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Winery and Lunch From Porto: $131
- Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise: $131
- Small Group Douro Valley Wine Tour with Lunch and Cruise: $149
- Douro Valley Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch and Boat: $150
- Douro Valley Tour - 3 Wine tastings, Lunch & river Cruise: $152
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Porto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Porto 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 Porto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Porto 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 Porto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porto Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Porto or Montego Bay?
Porto has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Porto 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 Porto or Montego Bay?
Porto 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 Porto or Montego Bay in the Summer?
Both Montego Bay and Porto during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In the summer, Porto is cooler than Montego Bay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Porto in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Porto. In the summer, Porto often gets more sunshine than Montego Bay. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun.
Porto usually gets less rain in July than Montego Bay. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPorto 21°C (69°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Porto or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Montego Bay. Many visitors come to Porto in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Porto is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 17°C (62°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. Porto usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during autumn. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Porto usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montego Bay. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPorto 17°C (62°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Porto or Montego Bay in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Porto as well as Montego Bay. Most visitors come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
Porto is much colder than Montego Bay in the winter. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the winter, Porto often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun.
Porto receives a lot of rain in the winter. Porto usually gets more rain in January than Montego Bay. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPorto 10°C (50°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Porto or Montego Bay in the Spring?
Both Montego Bay and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Porto because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Porto is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Porto in April average around 14°C (56°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montego Bay during spring. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Porto. In April, Porto usually receives more rain than Montego Bay. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPorto 14°C (56°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Porto
| Porto | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.