Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Reykjavik?
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 Reykjavik or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik or Montego Bay?
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.
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Reykjavik Prices
Iceland PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayReykjavik $307Montego Bay $255
The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $307, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $255. 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 Reykjavik and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personReykjavik $160Montego Bay $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomReykjavik $320Montego Bay $200
Compare Hotels in Reykjavik and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Reykjavik $52Montego Bay $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavík and Reykjavik Center: $31
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City one way: $31
- Airport Express Shared Departure transfer from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport: $31
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavik and Reykjavik Hotels: $40
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport with Hotel Pick Up: $42
- Private Transfers in Iceland: $45
- Private Transfer to Sky Lagoon from Reykjavik Keflavik: $49
- Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $51
- Blue Lagoon Transfer from/to Keflavik International Airport: $58
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Skálafell - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Skálafell to Reykjavik Airport (RKV) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Reykjavík/Keflavík–Blue Lagoon, Silica & Retreat Transfer: $67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $61
- Sangster Airport Montego Bay Transfer to Montego Bay or Falmouth: $16
- Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
- Royalton White Sands Private Airport Transfer: $40
- Royalton Blue Waters & Hideaway by Blue Waters Private Transfer: $35
- Roundtrip Montego Bay Airport Private Transfer to Hotel or Airbnb: $22
- Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
- Private airport transfer to negril resorts arrival/departure: $17
- Private Transfer/Tours to/from Montego Bay: $60
- Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
- Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Reykjavik or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Reykjavik 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 dayReykjavik $60Montego Bay $139
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $143
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $145
- 3 Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $195
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $215
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.Reykjavik $83Montego Bay $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$34
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Reykjavik Viking Roots to Modern Marvels Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket: $30
- Northern Lights: Aurora Basecamp Observatory Guided Experience: $30
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula: $32
- Saga Museum - Entrance ticket: $32
- Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon Self-Guided Driving Tour: $34
- Reykjavik Escape Game Experience - Prison Break 1: $45
- Reykjavík Shared Tuk Tuk Tour: $50
- Walking tour of Reykjavik city: $51
- Lava Show Reykjavik Admission Ticket - Optional Premium Upgrade : $55
- Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland: $55
- Classic Puffin Watching Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík: $60
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$2.63
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Snorkeling Trip$18
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$42
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 dayReykjavik $32Montego Bay $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Gin Distillery tour and tasting with Master Distiller: $35
- Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík: $49
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 Reykjavik and Montego Bay, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Montego Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Reykjavik 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 Montego Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montego Bay 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik than you might in Montego Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Reykjavik Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Reykjavik or Montego Bay?
Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik or Montego Bay?
Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik or Montego Bay in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Reykjavik as well as Montego Bay. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Reykjavik this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
In the summer, Reykjavik is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Reykjavik in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the summer, Reykjavik often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Reykjavik gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun.
Reykjavik usually gets less rain in July than Montego Bay. Reykjavik gets 52 mm (2 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 JulyReykjavik 11°C (52°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Reykjavik or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
Both Montego Bay and Reykjavik are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Reykjavik. In October, Reykjavik is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Reykjavik average around 5°C (41°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Reykjavik usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during autumn. Reykjavik gets 83 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In October, Reykjavik usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Reykjavik gets 86 mm (3.4 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 OctoberReykjavik 5°C (41°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Reykjavik or Montego Bay in the Winter?
Both Montego Bay and Reykjavik during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Reykjavik in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
Reykjavik can get quite cold in the winter. Reykjavik is much colder than Montego Bay in the winter. The daily temperature in Reykjavik averages around -0°C (32°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Reykjavik often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Reykjavik gets 27 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun.
Reykjavik usually gets more rain in January than Montego Bay. Reykjavik gets 76 mm (3 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 JanuaryReykjavik -0°C (32°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Reykjavik or Montego Bay in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Reykjavik and Montego Bay. Most visitors come to Reykjavik for the natural beauty during these months. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Reykjavik can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Reykjavik is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Reykjavik in April average around 3°C (38°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. Reykjavik usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during spring. Reykjavik gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Reykjavik usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montego Bay. Reykjavik gets 58 mm (2.3 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 AprilReykjavik 3°C (38°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Reykjavik
| Reykjavik | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (33°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 7°C (44°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 5°C (41°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.