Which place is cheaper, Asheville or Montego Bay?
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 Montego Bay or Asheville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montego Bay and Asheville can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montego Bay or Asheville?
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.
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesAsheville Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Asheville $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Asheville is $159. 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 Montego Bay and Asheville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Asheville $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Asheville $178
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Asheville
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Asheville? 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: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and Asheville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Asheville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Airport Private Round Trip Transfer: $40
- Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $88
- Airport Transfer To Secret Wild orchid/ST James Hotel : $60
- Airport Transfer to Montego Bay Hotels (Round-Trip): $54
- Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios Hotels (Round-Trip): $120
- Airport Transfers to Montego Bay Hotels – The Best in Jamaica!: $20
- MBJ Round Trip Private Airport Transfer to Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort : $36
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Montego Bay Private Transfer with Airport Pickup and Dropoff : $20
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Areas Private Luxury Transfer: $179
- Private Airport Transfer To Jewel Grande Resort : $47
- Private Airport Transfers to/from Hotels in Montego Bay : $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Asheville?
Prices for flights to both Asheville and Montego Bay 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 dayMontego Bay $139Asheville $58
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 : $40
- Lunch or Dinner Dining Experience in Montego Bay : $40
- Street Food Tour in Montego Bay: $59
- 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
- Cooking Class in Montego Bay with Home Chef: $150
- 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
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Asheville $20
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:
- Montego Bay Beach Day Experience: $20
- The Ultimate Montego Bay Night Life Experience: $25
- Montego Bay Cruise Ship Port Transportation Service : $26
- Montego Bay Shopping Private Tour: $26
- Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay : $30
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House and Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
- Doctors Cave Beach Roundtrip Tour in Montego Bay: $30
- Explore the Beauty of Montego Bay Nature Tour in Jamaica: $30
- Adventure and Activity Based Music and Nightlife and Nature: $30
- Ricks Cafe and Negril Seven Miles Beach Irie Tour: $35
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Downtown Asheville Historian-Guided Tour: $20
- Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $27
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Gem Mining and Goat Farm Walking Tour in Hendersonville: $30
- The Asheville Abyss Ghost Tour: Ashes to Apparitions: $32
- Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour: $35
- Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Buffalo Creek Ranch Tour Experience: $40
- Asheville Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley Tour: $41
- Explore Asheville on Segway Tours: $65
- Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour with Scenic Views: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Asheville $16
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: $231
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $255
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Asheville Bar Crawl: $15
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Bachelorette Royal Bar Crawl through South Slope District: $80
- Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $85
- Asheville Brewery Tour: $94
- 2 Vineyard Wine Tour of Western NC: $159
- Private Wine Tour with Dine in Black Mountain from Asheville: $230
- Three Vineyards Half Day Private Wine Tour From Asheville: $260
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Asheville, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Asheville is in North America, 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 Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville 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 Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montego Bay Expensive? and Is Asheville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Asheville?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Asheville, 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 Montego Bay or Asheville?
Asheville 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 Montego Bay or Asheville in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Asheville. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Asheville in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Asheville fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Asheville during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Asheville receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
Asheville receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Asheville. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Asheville 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Asheville in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Asheville. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Asheville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is much warmer than Asheville. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Asheville averages at about 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Asheville. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asheville receives 229 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Asheville. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Asheville 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Asheville in the Winter?
Both Asheville and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Asheville. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and Asheville fluctuates around 44°F (7°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Asheville during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Asheville receives 176 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Asheville. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Asheville 44°F (7°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Asheville in the Spring?
Both Asheville and Montego Bay during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Asheville because of the natural beauty.
Montego Bay is a little warmer than Asheville in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Asheville fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Asheville. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asheville receives 266 hours of full sun.
Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Asheville. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Asheville receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Asheville 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Asheville and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Asheville | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
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.