Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Sydney?
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 Sydney or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney 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: Sydney or Montego Bay?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Sydney Prices
Australia PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySydney $207Montego Bay $255
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $207, 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 Sydney and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $103Montego Bay $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $206Montego Bay $200
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $15Montego Bay $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- Transfer Between Airport & Hotels or Cruise Terminal: $13
- Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD shared ride seat in vehicle shuttle transfer: $13
- Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport: Shared Transfer to Sydney CBD: $22
- Shuttle Transfer from Cruise Ship Terminal at Circular Quay to Sydney Airport: $24
- Shuttle Transfer from Sydney City Hotel or Cruise Port to Sydney Airport: $24
- Shuttle Transfer from Sydney Airport to Cruise Ship Terminal at Circular Quay: $25
- Sydney Arrival Transfer: Airport to City or Overseas Passenger Terminal: $25
- Transfer from White Bay Cruise Terminal to Sydney Airport: $27
- Sydney Airport to White Bay Port transfer: $27
- Sydney Port Private Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to City: $30
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel or Cruise Port to Sydney Airport: $36
- Sydney Airport Vip Transfer to city: $36
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 Sydney or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Sydney 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 daySydney $77Montego Bay $139
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.62
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Lunch Special$9.81
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.81
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Meat Pies$3.27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- City Highlights Walking Food Tour with Harbor Cruise: $45
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $49
- Roti Making Class with 5-Course Dinner: $49
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $50
- Foraging Food Tour Sydney Native Aussie Food: $53
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $54
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $60
- Fish Market Food Tour: $63
- Taste of Sydney Fish Market Food Tour: $64
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
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.Sydney $31Montego Bay $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$29
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$125
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Powerhouse Museum$9.85
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sydney's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $1.79
- Sydney Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.20
- Sydney Cockatoo Island Escape: Convict Adventure Game: $7.20
- Sydney Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.40
- Sydney Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Haunted Sydney Self-Guided Audio Ghost Tour: $10
- Experience Sydney Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Tickets & Tours at Art Gallery of New South Wales: $16
- Aboriginal Art Exhibition Ticket, Art Gallery of NSW: $16
- Razor Gangs True Crime Tour: $16
- Tours & Exhibitions at Art Gallery of New South Wales: $17
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:
- 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
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySydney $15Montego Bay $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Wollongong Bar Crawl Go Out with a Gong: $15
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts: $32
- Private Wine Tasting at The Rocks: $46
- Sydney Cellar Door - Old Vine Expressions Wine Tasting: $47
- Marrickville Brewery Tour: $78
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $103
- From: Sydney - Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Guided Day Tour: $111
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- Meet the Makers Sydney Native Food & Distillery Tour: $132
- From Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour & Lunch: $144
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour: $145
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $148
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 Sydney and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Sydney much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific 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 Sydney would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sydney 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 Sydney.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sydney Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Montego Bay?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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 Sydney or Montego Bay?
Sydney 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 Sydney or Montego Bay in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Montego Bay. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sydney this time of year. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Sydney is generally cooler than Montego Bayin July. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 23°C (73°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 Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sydney usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during summer. Sydney gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun in the summer.
Sydney gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sydney usually receives more rain than Montego Bayin July. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 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 JulySydney 23°C (73°F)Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Montego Bay in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Montego Bay. Many travelers come to Sydney for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
Sydney is cooler than Montego Bay in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 19°C (65°F) in April, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the autumn, Sydney often gets less sunshine than Montego Bayin October. Sydney gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. Sydney receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sydney usually gets less rain in April than Montego Bayin October. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 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 OctoberSydney 19°C (65°F)Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Montego Bay in the Winter?
Both Montego Bay and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Sydney in the winter 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, Sydney is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sydney in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 24°C (75°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sydney. Sydney usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during winter. Sydney gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Sydney usually receives less rain than Montego Bayin January. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 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 JanuarySydney 12°C (53°F)Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Montego Bay in the Spring?
Both Montego Bay and Sydney during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sydney for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In October, Sydney is generally cooler than Montego Bayin April. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 18°C (64°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 Sydney. In the spring, Sydney often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Montego Bayin April. Sydney gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun.
Sydney usually gets more rain in October than Montego Bayin April. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 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 AprilSydney 18°C (64°F)Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Sydney
| Sydney | Montego Bay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.