Which place is cheaper, Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City?
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 Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City?
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.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, on the southeastern coast of New Jersey, is a popular destination for gambling, partying, and generally having fun. The beach is lined with casinos, many with famous names, and there's a boardwalk that offers a diverse experience. Most people don't head to Atlantic City for the beaches - it's the casinos and partying that draws a crowd. This is a popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, or anybody looking for an affordable place to gamble.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesAtlantic City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Atlantic City $190
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Atlantic City is $190. 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 Atlantic City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Atlantic City $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Atlantic City $146
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Atlantic City
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Atlantic City? 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 Atlantic City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Atlantic City $40
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 Atlantic City?
Prices for flights to both Atlantic City 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 $139Atlantic City $86
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 $31Atlantic City $44
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
Tours and Activities in Atlantic City
Here are a few actual costs in Atlantic City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Atlantic City Adventure Scavenger Hunt: $29
- Aces to Ashes: Apparitions of Atlantic City Boardwalk Ghost Tour: $31
- EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Speed Boat & Dolphin Cruise in Ocean City, MD: $35
- OC Bay Hopper - Assateague Island Cruise: $35
- OC Bay Hopper - Sunset Cruise: $35
- 1 Hour Private Escape Room Experience in Ocean City: $36
- 1-Hour Sea Rocket Sunset & OC Harbor Cruise in Ocean City, MD: $38
- 45-Minute Sea Rocket Speed Boat & Dolphin Cruise in Ocean City MD: $40
- OC Bay Hopper Sunset Cruise Departs Downtown OC: $40
- Assateague Horses, Herons and Happy Hour Cruise: $40
- Ocean City Bay Hopper - Greene Turtle Lunch Cruise: $45
- OC Bay Hopper - Happy Hour Cruise: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Atlantic City $39
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Atlantic City, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Atlantic City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City.
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 Atlantic City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Atlantic City?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Atlantic City. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Atlantic City, 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 Atlantic City?
Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Atlantic City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Atlantic City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than Atlantic City. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Atlantic City fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Atlantic City receives 273 hours of full sun in the summer.
Atlantic City receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Atlantic City. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Atlantic City 75°F (24°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Atlantic City in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Atlantic City. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Atlantic City in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Atlantic City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Atlantic City fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the autumn, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Atlantic City. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlantic City receives 197 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Atlantic City. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Atlantic City 56°F (13°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Atlantic City in the Winter?
Both Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Atlantic City can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than Atlantic City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Atlantic City averages at about 31°F (-0°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Atlantic City during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Atlantic City receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Atlantic City. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Atlantic City 31°F (-0°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Atlantic City in the Spring?
Both Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City because of the beaches.
In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Atlantic City. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Atlantic City fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).
In Atlantic City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the spring, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Atlantic City. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atlantic City receives 217 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Atlantic City. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Atlantic City receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Atlantic City 51°F (10°C)
Typical Weather for Atlantic City and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Atlantic City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 31°F (-0°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3 inches (76 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.