Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Rotterdam?
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 Rotterdam or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rotterdam and Montego Bay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rotterdam or Montego Bay?
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.
There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.
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 River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
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Rotterdam Prices
Netherlands PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRotterdam €191Montego Bay €223
The average daily cost (per person) in Rotterdam is €191, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is €223. 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 Rotterdam and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRotterdam €82Montego Bay €88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRotterdam €164Montego Bay €176
Compare Hotels in Rotterdam and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Rotterdam 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: Rotterdam Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rotterdam €26Montego Bay €13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Rotterdam: $10
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) Private Transfer to Rotterdam/Amsterdam: $35
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Rotterdam to Rotterdam Airport (RTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam in Sedan Car: $83
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM in Sedan Car: $83
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Rotterdam Airport (RTM): $88
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port: $88
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $88
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam Port: $88
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam by Luxury Van: $90
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM by Luxury Van: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Mercedes Benz Sprinter Airport Transfer: $300
- Chevy Suburban Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $300
- Jet Car Adventure in Montego Bay Daytrip with Transfers: $300
- Private Airport OneWay Transfer to Hotel in Montego Bay: $300
- Club Night Life Round-Trip Private Transfer in Montego Bay: $300
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport To Ocho Rios: $267
- Ocho Rios Hotels / Resort - Airport Transfers: $267
- Blue Hole & Horseback Riding Tour with Transfers from Montego Bay: $265
- SUV Prado Transfer from Montego Bay Airport: $257
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $245
- MBJ Airport to Strawberry Hill Hotel & Spa Transfer: $243
- Airport-Negril Hotels Transfers and Returns For 1- 4 persons: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Rotterdam or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Rotterdam 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 dayRotterdam €89Montego Bay €122
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pizza Cruise: $46
- Rotterdam Food Tour: Taste The Alternative Side Of The City: $79
- Guided Food Tour: $80
- Historic Delfshaven: Lunch or Dinner with a Private Chef: $87
- Food Tour by Bike: $104
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $104
- Rotterdam Walking Food Tour with 7 Delicious Tastings: $105
- Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $117
- Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $130
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $175
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Lunch or Dinner Dining Experience in Montego Bay: $40
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $95
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $130
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rotterdam €31Montego Bay €27
Tours and Activities in Rotterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.
- Rotterdam 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.54
- Breda Fun Puzzle Quest: True Lord Self-Guided Tour: $5.91
- Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.95
- Rotterdam Highlights & Spies: Exploration Game & Tour: $8.27
- Risen from Ruins Self Guided Tour of Rotterdam: $8.99
- Windmills and Dutch Ingenuity: A Kinderdijk Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
- Delfshaven Self-Guided Tour: A Guide to Rotterdam’s Old Town: $9.99
- Team Up for a Playful Tour of Rotterdam: $12
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Gouda: Canals, Colonies, and Cheese: $12
- Art, History and Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Rotterdam's Highlights and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- From River to Metropolis: A Rotterdam City Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
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€2.30
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Snorkeling Trip€16
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One Tank Dive€32
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride€37
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- 1 Hour Efoil Experience in Montego Bay: $150
- 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
- 3-Hour Private Tour in the Highlights of Montego Bay: $58
- 4 Hours Private Night Life Experience in Montego Bay: $66
- 4-Hour Catamaran Party Cruise with Open Bar from Montego Bay: $200
- 5 Hour Private Tour at Negril Beach and Rick's Cafe: $150
- 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
- 7 Mile Beach Party Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling & Ricks Cafe: $115
- 7 Mile Beach Private Tour: $122
- ATV & Bamboo Rafting Guided Tour In Jamaica: $295
- ATV & Horseback Ride Guided Tour in Jamaica: $66
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRotterdam €19Montego Bay €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rotterdam
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:
- Beer Brewery 'Noordt' Beer Tasting: $9.31
- Brewery Noordt Tour Including Two Beers: $20
- Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $26
- The Ultimate Rotterdam Bar Crawl Experience: $41
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $52
- Ludwig's Private Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $576
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: $231
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rotterdam and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Rotterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Montego Bay?
Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam or Montego Bay?
Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam or Montego Bay in the Summer?
Both Montego Bay and Rotterdam during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In July, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 17°C (62°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rotterdam. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun.
Rotterdam usually gets more rain in July than Montego Bay. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 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 JulyRotterdam 17°C (62°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rotterdam or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Montego Bay. The autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Rotterdam is much colder than Montego Bay in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, 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. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 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. In October, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 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 OctoberRotterdam 11°C (51°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rotterdam or Montego Bay in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Montego Bay. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. In the winter, Rotterdam is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rotterdam in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the winter, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun.
Rotterdam usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Montego Bay. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 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 JanuaryRotterdam 2°C (36°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Rotterdam or Montego Bay in the Spring?
Both Montego Bay and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Montego Bay. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 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 AprilRotterdam 8°C (46°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Rotterdam
| Rotterdam | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 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.