Which place is cheaper, Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key?
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 Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key?
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.
Big Pine Key
If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesBig Pine Key Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Big Pine Key $174
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Big Pine Key is $174. 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 Big Pine Key in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Big Pine Key $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Big Pine Key $128
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Big Pine Key
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Big Pine Key? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Big Pine Key $56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Zoetry Montego Bay Airport Transfers MBJ (Private Roundtrip Exclusive): $180
- VIP Airport Transfer to Hotel in Montego Bay: $30
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Runaway Bay: $163
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $61
- Tobys Resort Private Airport Transfer: $20
- The Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $50
- Sunset at the Palms Negril Airport Transfers: $78
- Sunset at the Palm Private Negril Airport Transfer : $52
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $9.26
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Montego Bay International Airport: $19
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Sangster's International to Negril: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Big Pine Key?
Prices for flights to both Big Pine Key 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 $139Big Pine Key $72
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 $31Big Pine Key $42
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:
- 2 Days Of Blue Hole, Dunns River Falls & Hidden Beauty Adventure: $180
- ATV Adventure to Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe: $220
- Bioluminescence Lagoon Tour from Montego Bay with Pick Up: $105
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Bob Marley Nine Mile and Dunn's River Falls Tour From Montego Bay : $300
- Dirt Adventure ATV from Montego Bay: $160
- Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
- Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
- Falmouth to Bob Marley Nine Miles and Dunns River Falls Tour : $250
- Floyds Pelican Bar Private Tour : $155
- Green Grotto Cave Private Tour: $115
- Horseback Riding and Tour from Montego Bay : $230
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Big Pine Key $9.29
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 Big Pine Key, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Big Pine Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key.
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 Big Pine Key Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Big Pine Key?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Big Pine Key. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Big Pine Key, 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 Big Pine Key?
Big Pine Key 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 Big Pine Key in the Summer?
Both Big Pine Key and Montego Bay during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Big Pine Key in the summer. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Big Pine Key fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).
In Big Pine Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Big Pine Key. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Pine Key receives 328 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than Big Pine Key. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Big Pine Key 84°F (29°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Big Pine Key in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Big Pine Key. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round.
In the autumn, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Big Pine Key. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montego Bay in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Big Pine Key averages at about 80°F (27°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Big Pine Key this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Big Pine Key during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Big Pine Key receives 258 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Big Pine Key receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives around the same amount of rain as Big Pine Key. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Big Pine Key 80°F (27°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Big Pine Key in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Big Pine Key. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than Big Pine Key. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 24°C (75°F), and Big Pine Key fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Big Pine Key. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Big Pine Key receives 252 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Big Pine Key. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Big Pine Key 70°F (21°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Big Pine Key in the Spring?
Both Big Pine Key and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Big Pine Key in the spring. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Big Pine Key fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It's quite sunny in Big Pine Key. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Big Pine Key during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Big Pine Key receives 326 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Big Pine Key. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Big Pine Key receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Big Pine Key 77°F (25°C)
Typical Weather for Big Pine Key and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Big Pine Key | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 1.7 inches (43 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 71°F (21°C) | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 74°F (23°C) | 1.7 inches (42 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 inches (21 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 84°F (29°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 1.4 inches (35 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.