Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Taupo?
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 Taupo or Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Taupo or Montego Bay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Taupo or Montego Bay?
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
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 G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.
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Taupo Prices
New Zealand PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaupo $123Montego Bay $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $123, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $258. 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 Taupo and Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaupo $60Montego Bay $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaupo $120Montego Bay $202
Compare Hotels in Taupo and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Taupo 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: Taupo Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taupo $24Montego Bay $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taupo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Taupo:
- Tongariro Crossing : 2 Day PRIVATE TRANSFER Leaving AUCKLAND: $1,101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to Grand & Luxury Bahia Principe: $80
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to RIU PALACE AQUARELLE: $50
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14
- Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $30
- Airport Private Transfers from Montego Bay to Hilton Rose Hall: $21
- Airport Round transfer Excellence,Coral Springs,Paladium, Royaltan Blue Waters: $110
- Airport Transfer From Kingston: $200
- Airport Transfer To Hotel in Montego Bay: $34
- Airport Transfer To Iberostar Hotel: $70
- Airport Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels: $55
- Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels (Round-trip): $115
- Airport Transfer To S Hotel (Round-trip): $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Taupo or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Taupo 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 dayTaupo $39Montego Bay $141
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 with Pickup from Montego Bay: $45
- Montego Bay City and Food Tour All Inclusive Experience: $50
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Luminous Lagoon Sunset Cruise, Dinner & Glowing Waters Swim: $95
- Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
- Glistening Bioluminescent Waters and Dinner at Jerk hut: $105
- Bar Hopping & Local Food Tour-From Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios: $130
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
- Dinner and Nightlife -From Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios: $150
- Sunset Boat Cruise and Luminous Lagoon with Dinner and Transfer: $150
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taupo $33Montego Bay $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$146
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Jet Boating$54
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave Entry Ticket: $28
- Lake Taupō Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise aboard Ernest Kemp: $34
- Classical Sailing - Māori Rock Carvings -Taupo Sailing Adventures: $34
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $34
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $34
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $34
- Māori Rock Carvings Lake Taupo Catamaran Tour: $36
- Self-Guided Geothermal Tour in Orakei Korako: $36
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $37
- Kakariki Day Time Cruise to Maori Rock Carvings: $37
- Eco Sailing Tour to Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo: $37
- Luxury Sailing - Māori Rock Carvings - Taupo Sailing Adventures: $40
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$2.67
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $20
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Doctors Cave Beach Roundtrip Tour in Montego Bay: $30
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
- VR Experience in Montego Bay: $30
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour with Admission: $35
- Street Executive Tours And Chauffeur Service Jamaica: $35
- Luminous Lagoon Night Boat Tour in Jamaica: $35
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $38
- Bamboo Rafting, Limestone Massage and Hip Strip Tour In Jamaica: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaupo $13Montego Bay $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$4.85
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:
- Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taupo and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Taupo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Taupo 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 Taupo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taupo 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 Taupo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taupo Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taupo or Montego Bay?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Taupo 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.
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.