Which place is cheaper, Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Taupo or Ocho Rios? 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 Ocho Rios?
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.
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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 PricesOcho Rios Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaupo $123Ocho Rios $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $123, while the average daily cost in Ocho Rios is $86. 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 Ocho Rios in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaupo $60Ocho Rios $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaupo $120Ocho Rios $102
Compare Hotels in Taupo and Ocho Rios
Looking for a hotel in Taupo or Ocho Rios? 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 Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taupo $24Ocho Rios $7.41
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 Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV Tour Ocho Rios - Private Transfer Only (Activity Fee Excluded): $27
- Airport Transfer Ocho Rios hotels: $80
- Airport Transfer To Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & Negril: $140
- Bahia Principe Escape Runaway Bay Private Airport transfer: $66
- Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica Private Airport transfer: $61
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $225
- Dunn's River Falls And Shopping Tour From Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $65
- Dunn’s River Falls: River Tubing with Lunch and Transfers: $166
- Jamaica Private Hotel and Airport Transfer: $5.00
- Jewel Paradise Cove Resort Airport Transfer: $53
- Kingston Airport (KIN) to Runaway Bay Round-Trip Private Transfer: $244
- Kingston Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios: $147
Is it cheaper to fly into Taupo or Ocho Rios?
Prices for flights to both Ocho Rios 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 $39Ocho Rios $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Runaway Bay: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taupo $33Ocho Rios $15
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:
- Chasing Waterfalls The Adventurer from Kinloch Marina: $178
- Classical Sailing - Māori Rock Carvings -Taupo Sailing Adventures: $34
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $37
- Eco Sailing Tour to Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo: $37
- Evening Eco Sailing Adventure to Māori Rock Carvings Lake Taupō: $43
- Guided Geothermal E-Bike Tour on the Huka River Trail: $181
- Hidden Lake Kayak Tour in Taupō’s Secret Gem: $112
- Kakariki Day Time Cruise to Maori Rock Carvings: $37
- Lake Taupo Small Group Parasailing Tour With 12 Minute Flight: $68
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.34
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour: $20
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $26
- Private Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios Sightseeing and shopping: $35
- Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour: $35
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Blue Hole and Dunn's River Tour (Entrance Fees Not Included): $40
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour Ocho Rios Jamaica: $43
- Ocho Rios Scenic, Shopping and Lunch Tour: $45
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $49
- Blue Hole And Konoko Falls Combo Tour From Ocho Rios & Runaway Bay!: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaupo $13Ocho Rios $7.52
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taupo and Ocho Rios, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Taupo is in Pacific and Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo than you might in Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taupo Expensive? and Is Ocho Rios Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taupo or Ocho Rios?
Taupo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Taupo and Ocho Rios, 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.