A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rome vs. Montego Bay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rome 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 Rome 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: Rome or Montego Bay?

Rome

Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.

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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Rome?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Rome Prices
    Italy Prices
    Montego Bay Prices
    Jamaica Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Rome 207
    Montego Bay 217

The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €207, 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 Rome and Montego Bay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rome 90
    Montego Bay 85
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rome 180
    Montego Bay 170
Compare Hotels in Rome and Montego Bay

Looking for a hotel in Rome 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.

Hotels in Rome


Hotels in Montego Bay


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: Rome Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rome 21
    Montego Bay 12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:


  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    2.00
  • Train to the Airport
    15
  • Taxi to Airport
    45
  • Bicycle Rental (Full Day)
    10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:

  • Bus Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican City: $7.21
  • Transfer Ciampino Airport - Rome center: $8.42
  • Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome City Centre : $8.42
  • Transfer Rome center - Ciampino Airport: $8.42
  • Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $9.30
  • Rome from Civitavecchia Transfer with Optional Open Bus: $36
  • Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option: $39
  • Luxury Private Transfer from/to Fiumicino Airport to Rome Center: $41
  • Luxury Private Transfer Rome Center to Fiumicino Airport: $44
  • Ciampino Transfer: $44
  • Transfer between Rome and the Fiumicino Airport FCO: $45
  • Rome’s Bone Chapel with Panoramic Transfer: $46

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • Montego Bay Private Transfer with Airport Pickup and Dropoff : $20
  • Shared Airport Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $55
  • Airport Transfer Service In Montego bay: $95
  • Brown Boss Private Airport Transfers: $20
  • Club Mobay VIP Lounge Access and Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $113
  • Eden Bay Private Airport Transfer: $50
  • Excellence Oyster Bay Private Transfer: $40
  • Excellence Resort Private Airport Transfer: $40
  • Experience Jamaica Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $100
  • Experience private Airport Transfer to Falmouth: $50
  • From Kingston One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $44
  • Grand Palladium Resort Private Transfer: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Montego Bay?

Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Rome 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
    Rome 84
    Montego Bay 119
Typical Food Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    14
  • 4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
    2.99
  • Cafe e doce
    4.00
  • Pizza (Fast Food)
    2.65
  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    32
  • Cheese and bread
    10
  • Espresso
    2.00
  • Dinner
    58

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.

  • Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
  • Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
  • Rome City Center Largest Farmers Market and Street Food Tour : $35
  • Pizza and Tiramisu Cooking Class near the Colosseum: $35
  • Pizza Making Class with Spritz & Mixology: $35
  • Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $42
  • Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $46
  • Gnocchi Cooking Class in Rome - Piazza Navona: $46
  • Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $47
  • Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $47
  • Rome Food Tour by the Vatican : $52
  • Pizza Cooking Class in Rome City Center - Piazza Navona: $52

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rome 36
    Montego Bay 26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
    69
  • Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
    33
  • Roma Pass
    30
  • Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
    20
  • Segway Tour
    75

Tours and Activities in Rome

Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Self Guided Audio Tour with 100 Captivating Stories in Rome: $3.59
  • Rome and Tuscany Secret Treasures Self Guided Walking Tour: $4.20
  • Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome: $4.21
  • Twilight Treasures: An Evening Tour Through Rome's Rich History: $4.57
  • Rome Art Walking Tour Who Killed Caravaggio: $4.81
  • Ghosts Legends and Mysteries of Rome Walking Tour: $4.81
  • Colosseum and Roman Forum Sightseeing Area Night Walking Tour: $4.81
  • Rome Timeless Trail Self Guided Walking Tour with App: $5.78
  • Rome Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.88
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.88
  • What Emperor Hadrian Lost: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Ancient Rome: $5.99
  • Rome Empress Mystery: Self-Guided Adventure Game: $6.00

Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:


  • Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach
    2.24
  • Snorkeling Trip
    16
  • One Tank Dive
    31
  • 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:

  • Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
  • Luminous Lagoon Admission Tickets: $40
  • Jet Car Experience/ clear kayak photo shoot in Montego Bay: $40
  • Jamaica Bamboo Rafting Experience with Lime Stone Massage: $50
  • 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
  • Montego Bay Sight Seeing with Tour Guide : $50
  • Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $54
  • Bamboo Rafting Adventure with Limestone Massage from Montego Bay: $55
  • Montego Bay & Falmouth Hotels, Souvenir Shopping and sightseeing: $60
  • Private Tour in Dunns River Falls: $60
  • Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
  • Private Montego Bay Customized Tour with Pickup and Guide: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rome 18
    Montego Bay 11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:


  • Bottle of Wine
    6.50
  • Pint of Beer
    6.34
  • Beer
    10

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:

  • Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Small Group Experience: $19
  • Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $19
  • Trionfale Farmers Market and Vatican Quarter Food and Wine Tour: $35
  • Vatican Food and Wine Tasting Tour next to the Sistine Chapel: $35
  • Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $39
  • Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $47
  • Tour of Rome with wine tasting: $54
  • Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $59
  • Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $60
  • Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $66
  • Wine Tasting Cold cuts and Rare Cheeses in Grotta a Testaccio: $72
  • Trastevere Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $77

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 comparing the travel costs between Rome and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Rome is in Europe and Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rome Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rome or Montego Bay?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome or Montego Bay?

Rome 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 Rome or Montego Bay in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and Montego Bay. The summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Rome is generally cooler than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 25°C (77°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rome usually receives more sunshine than Montego Bay during summer. Rome gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rome usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Rome 25°C (77°F) 
    Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Rome or Montego Bay in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Rome as well as Montego Bay. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.

Rome is much colder than Montego Bay in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the autumn, Rome often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Rome gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. Rome usually gets less rain in October than Montego Bay. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Rome 17°C (63°F) 
    Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Rome or Montego Bay in the Winter?

Both Montego Bay and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Rome 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.

In the winter, Rome is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rome in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Rome usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during winter. Rome gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Rome usually receives more rain than Montego Bay. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Rome 8°C (47°F) 
    Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Rome or Montego Bay in the Spring?

Both Montego Bay and Rome during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.

In April, Rome is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 14°C (57°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rome. In the spring, Rome often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Rome gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun.

Rome usually gets less rain in April than Montego Bay. Rome gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Rome 14°C (57°F) 
    Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)

Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Rome

Rome Montego Bay
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 8°C (47°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 24°C (75°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 9°C (49°F) 76 mm (3 in) 24°C (75°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Mar 11°C (52°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Apr 14°C (57°F) 50 mm (2 in) 25°C (77°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 42 mm (1.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jun 22°C (71°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 19 mm (0.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 25°C (77°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 22°C (71°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Oct 17°C (63°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Nov 12°C (54°F) 105 mm (4.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Dec 9°C (49°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)