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

Should you visit Utrecht or Montego Bay?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Utrecht 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: Utrecht or Montego Bay?

Utrecht

Utrecht is both a province and a city in the Netherlands. The city is a unique university city with a lively atmosphere. Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands.


Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay or Utrecht?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Utrecht is €219, 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 Utrecht and Montego Bay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Utrecht 100
    Montego Bay 88
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Utrecht 200
    Montego Bay 176
Compare Hotels in Utrecht and Montego Bay

Looking for a hotel in Utrecht 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 Utrecht


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: Utrecht Hotel Prices and Montego Bay Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Utrecht 23
    Montego Bay 13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:

  • Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Rotterdam: $18
  • Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Den Haag: $20
  • Private taxi transfer from Utrecht to Amsterdam: $110
  • Private transfer from Utrecht to AMS Schiphol Airport: $130

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $9.75
  • Sangster International Airport Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $10
  • Mbj Airport Transfers to any Montego Bay Hotels: $10
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril *Air Conditioning: $10
  • Breathless Resort Exclusive Private Airport Transfer: $10
  • Private Airport transfer Montego Bay: $12
  • S Hotel Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $12
  • Private Transfers: MBJ Airport ↔ RIU Montego Bay, Palace & Reggae: $13
  • El Greco Resort Private Airport Transfer: $13
  • Grandiosa Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay Hotels: $14
  • A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Utrecht or Montego Bay?

Prices for flights to both Montego Bay and Utrecht 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
    Utrecht 94
    Montego Bay 122

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Utrecht

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

  • Guided Food Tour: $80
  • Food Tour by Bike: enjoy 6 bites and cycle trough Utrecht: $81
  • Utrecht Food Tour: 7 food stops and a fantastic local guide: $81
  • Utrecht Bike & Bite: The Ultimate Local Food Tour with Guide: $84
  • Utrecht Walking Food Tour with 7 Gourmet Dishes & Local Guide: $84
  • 10 Tastes of Food Tour with Full Lunch and 2 Drinks: $195

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay

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

  • Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
  • Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $50
  • 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
  • Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
  • Dinner or lunch at pier one Montego bay Food Tour: $144
  • Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $150
  • Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
  • Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
  • Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations: $175
  • Authentic Jamaican Cooking Experience in the Mountain from mobay: $210

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Utrecht 43
    Montego Bay 27

Tours and Activities in Utrecht

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Utrecht are as follows:

  • Utrecht 2-Hour Walking Tour | Discover The City With A Local: $3.54
  • Private Walking Tour of Nieuwegracht Utrecht Netherlands: $5.90
  • Utrecht Monster Mystery: Exploration Game and Tour: $7.82
  • Utrecht Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.42
  • Uniquely An Audio Tour of its Charming City Centre: $9.99
  • Utrecht Historic City: a Self-Guided Augmented Reality Tour: $12
  • Castles, Canals and Good Folk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht: $12
  • Pub Trail Utrecht An Adventure Full of Surprises: $13
  • De Haar Castle Gardens and Park Only Entry Ticket: $15
  • Lofen Palace with Entry Ticket & Guide: $15
  • Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $15
  • Utrecht Cultural self guided Audio Cultural & Historical Tour: $15

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
    2.30
  • Snorkeling Trip
    16
  • One Tank Dive
    32
  • 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:

  • Souvenirs and Gift shopping Tour in Montego Bay: $20
  • Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
  • Margaritaville Hip-Strip and Great River Rafting Private Tour: $20
  • Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $22
  • Doctor Cave Beach and Hip Strip Shopping from Cruise Ship: $30
  • Rose Hall Great House and Garden Tour Ticket: $30
  • Adventure and Activity Based Music and Nightlife and Nature: $30
  • Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
  • Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
  • Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
  • Ricks Cafe and Negril Seven Miles Beach Irie Tour: $35
  • Half-Day Private Guided Ricks Café & Negril Seven Mile Beach Tour: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Utrecht 23
    Montego Bay 11

Sample the Local Flavors in Utrecht

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Utrecht:

  • Ultimate Leo’s Pub Crawl with Local Host & Shots: $36
  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $47
  • 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 Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255


When comparing the travel costs between Utrecht 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 Utrecht 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 Utrecht Expensive? and Is Montego Bay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Utrecht or Montego Bay?

Utrecht has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Utrecht 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 Utrecht or Montego Bay?

Utrecht 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 Utrecht or Montego Bay in the Summer?

Both Montego Bay and Utrecht are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Utrecht in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Utrecht is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the summer temperatures in Utrecht in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. Utrecht usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during summer. Utrecht gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 257 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Utrecht usually receives more rain than Montego Bay. Utrecht gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Utrecht 17°C (62°F) 
    Montego Bay 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Utrecht or Montego Bay in the Autumn?

Both Montego Bay and Utrecht during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Utrecht for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.

In October, Utrecht is generally much colder than Montego Bay. Daily temperatures in Utrecht average around 11°C (51°F), and Montego Bay fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Utrecht often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Utrecht gets 100 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 233 hours of full sun.

Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Utrecht usually gets less rain in October than Montego Bay. Utrecht gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Utrecht 11°C (51°F) 
    Montego Bay 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Utrecht or Montego Bay in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Utrecht and Montego Bay. The winter months attract visitors to Utrecht because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Utrecht can be very cold. Utrecht is much colder than Montego Bay in the winter. The daily temperature in Utrecht averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Montego Bay fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. Utrecht usually receives less sunshine than Montego Bay during winter. Utrecht gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Montego Bay receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Utrecht usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montego Bay. Utrecht gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Montego Bay receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Utrecht 2°C (36°F) 
    Montego Bay 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Utrecht or Montego Bay in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Utrecht as well as Montego Bay. The natural beauty are the main draw to Utrecht this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.

In the spring, Utrecht is much colder than Montego Bay. Typically, the spring temperatures in Utrecht in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Montego Bay averages at about 25°C (77°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. In the spring, Utrecht often gets less sunshine than Montego Bay. Utrecht gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montego Bay receives 225 hours of full sun.

Utrecht usually gets less rain in April than Montego Bay. Utrecht gets 52 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
    Utrecht 8°C (46°F) 
    Montego Bay 25°C (77°F)

Typical Weather for Montego Bay and Utrecht

Utrecht 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)