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

Should you visit Montego Bay or Reno?

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 Reno 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 Reno?

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.

Reno

In the northwest area of Nevada, Reno sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. After Las Vegas, it's the second most popular tourist destination in the state of Nevada. You'll find some nice resorts, elaborate casinos, nice restaurants and unique opportunities for entertainment throughout the city.

The city, referred to as "The Biggest Little City in the World", has a population of about 235,000. It's part of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, which has a population of about 440,000.

Reno is located in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The city has a steppe climate with light to moderate snowfall in the winter months. Precipitation is most common during the winter and spring, but the city averages about 300 days of sunshine a year. Average temperatures are 35 degrees Fahrenheit in December and 75 degrees Fahrenheit in July.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Reno 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.

  • Montego Bay Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Reno Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Montego Bay $255
    Reno $184

The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Reno is $184. 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 Reno in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montego Bay $100
    Reno $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montego Bay $200
    Reno $110
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Reno

Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Reno? 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 Montego Bay


Hotels in Reno


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 Reno Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montego Bay $14
    Reno $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:

  • VIP Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $70
  • Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $61
  • Sangster Airport Montego Bay Transfer to Montego Bay or Falmouth: $16
  • Sandals South Coast Airport Transfer: $80
  • Royalton White Sands Private Airport Transfer: $40
  • Royalton Blue Waters & Hideaway by Blue Waters Private Transfer: $35
  • Roundtrip Montego Bay Airport Private Transfer to Hotel or Airbnb: $22
  • Riu Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $169
  • Private airport transfer to negril resorts arrival/departure: $17
  • Private Transfer/Tours to/from Montego Bay: $60
  • Private Transfer to Dunns River Blue Hole Tubing from Montego Bay: $110
  • Private Transfer to Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole: $110

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Reno

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Reno:


  • Car Wash
    $5.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Reno?

Prices for flights to both Reno 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Montego Bay $139
    Reno $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay

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

  • Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $10
  • 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
  • Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica : $130
  • Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
  • Dinner Experience and Celebration on the Beach with Decorations : $158
  • PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190

Typical Food Prices in Reno

For Reno, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dennys for Breakfast
    $22
  • Sushi DInner (for 2)
    $40
  • In-n-Out Burger (for 3)
    $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montego Bay $31
    Reno $88
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
    $2.63
  • Snorkeling Trip
    $18
  • One Tank Dive
    $37
  • 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:

  • Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
  • Dunn’s River Secret falls with Horse-back&Bamboo Raft Experience: $125
  • Falmouth Mystic from Montego Bay Luminous Lagoon Night Tour: $90
  • Luminous Lagoon Glow in the Dark Boat Tour from Montego Bay: $65
  • Luminous Lagoon Night Tour from Montego Bay: $118
  • Private Dolphin Cove Adventure : $250
  • 1 Hour Horse Back Riding & Dunn's River Falls Tour Combo: $240
  • 3 Hours Private Highlights Tour & Shopping in Montego Bay Jamaica: $100
  • 3 Hours Private Tour in Montego Bay From Falmouth: $75
  • 7 Mile Beach & Ricks Cafe with free Shopping experience: $50
  • ATV Adventure and Rick's Cafe Tour with Transportation: $238
  • ATV Jungle Safari Tour from Montego Bay: $125

Tours and Activities in Reno

For Reno, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Reno Ghost Tour: Ruin, Revenge, & Reckoning: $24
  • Jungle Escape Room Adventure: $30
  • The Master Escape Room Experience: $30
  • Bowlball and Pins & Arrows Experience: $30
  • Axe and Knife Throwing Experience: $35
  • Axe Throwing Experience (18+) at Grand Sierra Resort: $40
  • Rage Room Experience: $40
  • Splatter Paint Room Experience: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montego Bay $13
    Reno $13

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Reno

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Reno:

  • Original Brewery Tour: $94


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Reno, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Reno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Reno 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 Reno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Reno 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 Reno.

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 Reno Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Reno, 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.