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

Should you visit Recife or Ocho Rios?

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 Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, and The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Ocho Rios or Recife?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Ocho Rios is $77. 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 Ocho Rios in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Recife $88
    Ocho Rios $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Recife $176
    Ocho Rios $104
Compare Hotels in Recife and Ocho Rios

Looking for a hotel in Recife or Ocho Rios? 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 Recife


Hotels in Ocho Rios


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 Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Recife $8.47
    Ocho Rios $7.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:

  • Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
  • Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
  • Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
  • Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
  • Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
  • Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
  • Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
  • Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
  • Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
  • Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
  • Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
  • Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 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 Montego Bay To Ocho Rios .: $30
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios and Runnaway Bay Hotels(Private) : $32
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer To Ocho Rios : $33
  • Private Round Trip Transfer to Dunns River Climb and Zipline over the Falls! : $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Ocho Rios?

Prices for flights to both Ocho Rios 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Recife $70
    Ocho Rios $17

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.
    Recife $11
    Ocho Rios $15

Tours and Activities in Recife

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

  • City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
  • Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
  • Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
  • Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.86
  • Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
  • City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27

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
  • Private Guided Tour To Yaaman Adventures Safari jungle park: $40
  • Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios with Pickup: $40
  • Ocho Rios Sightseeing and Taxi from Runaway Bay & Ocho Rios: $40
  • Half-Day Blue Hole and Secret Falls Tour from Runaway Bay: $46
  • Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $49
  • Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
  • Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Blue Hole Secret Falls and Shopping: $50
  • Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Konoko Falls And Garden and Shopping: $50
  • Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
  • Irie Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Recife -
    Ocho Rios $7.71


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Ocho Rios, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Ocho Rios 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 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife 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 Recife Expensive? and Is Ocho Rios Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Recife or Ocho Rios?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Ocho Rios, 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 Ocho Rios?

Recife 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 Recife or Ocho Rios in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Recife as well as Ocho Rios. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year.

In the summer, Recife is around the same temperature as Ocho Rios. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Ocho Rios averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Recife this time of the year. In the summer, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ocho Riosin July. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ocho Rios receives 254 hours of full sun.

Recife receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife usually gets more rain in January than Ocho Riosin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Recife 26°C (79°F) 
    Ocho Rios 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Recife or Ocho Rios in the Autumn?

Both Ocho Rios and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Ocho Riosin October. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Ocho Rios fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Ocho Rios. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Ocho Rios during autumn. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Ocho Rios receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. It's quite rainy in Recife. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Ocho Riosin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Recife 26°C (79°F) 
    Ocho Rios 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Recife or Ocho Rios in the Winter?

Both Ocho Rios and Recife during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round.

Recife is around the same temperature as Ocho Rios in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Ocho Rios fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Recife often gets less sunshine than Ocho Riosin January. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ocho Rios receives 257 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Ocho Riosin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Recife 24°C (76°F) 
    Ocho Rios 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Recife or Ocho Rios in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Recife is around the same temperature as Ocho Rios. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Ocho Rios averages at about 26°C (80°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ocho Rios this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ocho Rios during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Ocho Rios receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Recife usually receives more rain than Ocho Riosin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ocho Rios receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Recife 25°C (77°F) 
    Ocho Rios 26°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Ocho Rios and Recife

Recife Ocho Rios
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 257 mm (10.1 in) 26°C (80°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 338 mm (13.3 in) 26°C (80°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
May 25°C (78°F) 319 mm (12.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Jun 25°C (77°F) 378 mm (14.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 24°C (76°F) 388 mm (15.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 205 mm (8.1 in) 29°C (83°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Sep 24°C (76°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 29°C (83°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Oct 25°C (77°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)