Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Montego Bay can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Montego Bay?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, and The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Montego Bay $203
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $203. 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 Recife and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Montego Bay $104
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Montego Bay $208
Compare Hotels in Recife and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Montego Bay $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Transfer : $10
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer : $10
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Transfer Sangster International Airport to Montego Bay: $12
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Airport Transfer to Sandals Montego : $13
- MBJ Airport: Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Half Moon - Holiday Inn - Zoetry: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Breathless/ to Secrets Resort: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Hyatt Ziva & Zilara to Jewel Grande: $14
- Relaxing Airport To Resort In Montego Bay Transfer: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Montego Bay $84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Private Transportation to DINNER or NIGHT CLUBS: $55
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- Private Sea-Food Tour & Floyds Pelican Bar from Montego Bay or ..: $185
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Montego Bay $32
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.86
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
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$2.74
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$44
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour of Montego Bay City: $39
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Shopping and Sightseeing Local Guided Tour In Montego Bay: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $40
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Montego Bay -
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 Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Recife much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America 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 Recife would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Recife 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 Recife.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Montego Bay?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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 Recife or Montego Bay?
Recife 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 Recife or Montego Bay in the Summer?
Both Montego Bay and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Recife is around the same temperature as Montego Bay in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Montego Bay during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Montego Bayin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 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 January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
Both Montego Bay and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In the autumn, Recife is around the same temperature as Montego Bay. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Recife often gets less sunshine than Montego Bayin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Montego Bayin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 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 April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Montego Bay in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Montego Bay. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Montego Bayin January. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Montego Bayin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 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 July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Recife or Montego Bay in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as Montego Bay. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
Recife is around the same temperature as Montego Bay in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Recife this time of the year. In the spring, Recife often gets more sunshine than Montego Bayin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Montego Bayin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 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 October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Recife
| Recife | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 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.