Which place is cheaper, Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis?
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 Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis?
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.
Saint Louis
Nicknamed the "Gateway to the West" and perhaps best known for its iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri, has grown from a last stop for pioneers journeying west to a thriving metropolis notable for its diverse culture, impressive architecture, and unique neighborhoods. It sits on the Mississippi River and has plenty to offer in dining, shopping, sight-seeing, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesSaint Louis Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Saint Louis $224
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Saint Louis is $224. 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 Saint Louis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Saint Louis $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Saint Louis $202
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Saint Louis
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Saint Louis? 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 Saint Louis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Saint Louis $26
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Louis
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Louis:
- Arrival transfer St. Louis Airport STL to St. Louis by Car or SUV: $125
- Departure Transfer St. Louis to St. Louis Airport by Car or SUV: $125
- St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) to St. Louis City - Arrival Private Transfer: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Saint Louis?
Prices for flights to both Saint Louis 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 $139Saint Louis $93
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Louis
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Louis.
- Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Show - St. Louis, MO: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Saint Louis $46
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 Saint Louis
Here are a few typical costs in Saint Louis for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Gateway Arch parking$6.00
Tours and Activities in Saint Louis
Here are a few actual costs in Saint Louis for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown St. Louis Smartphone Guided Audio Walking Tour App: $7.75
- Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $9.99
- St. Louis Blues Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Enterprise Center: $13
- Gateway Arch National Park Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $15
- Saint Louis Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Landmarks Downtown-West Walking Tour: $17
- Landmarks Downtown-East Walking Tour: $17
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in St. Louis by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour: $27
- St Louis Ghost Tours: Sinister Sins & Shadows Ghost Tour : $30
- St. Louis Soulard True Crime Tour: Historic Murders & Gangsters: $30
- St. Louis Narrated Trolley Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Saint Louis $19
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 Saint Louis
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Louis:
- The Haunted Lemp Brewery Bottle Works Tour: $25
When comparing the travel costs between Montego Bay and Saint Louis, 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 Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Saint Louis is in North America, 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 Montego Bay Expensive? and Is Saint Louis Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Saint Louis?
Saint Louis has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis?
Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Saint Louis. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Saint Louis for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as Saint Louis. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Louis fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Saint Louis during summer. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 309 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Saint Louis. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Saint Louis 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint Louis in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Saint Louis. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Saint Louis in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Saint Louis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Saint Louis fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. 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 Saint Louis. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 203 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay usually gets more rain in October than Saint Louis. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Saint Louis 60°F (16°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint Louis in the Winter?
Both Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Saint Louis can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than Saint Louis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Saint Louis averages at about 31°F (-1°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Saint Louis during winter. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Louis receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Saint Louis. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 2 inches (52 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Saint Louis 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Saint Louis in the Spring?
Both Saint Louis 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.
In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Saint Louis. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint Louis fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).
In Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Louis receives 229 hours of full sun.
Saint Louis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in April than Saint Louis. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint Louis receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Saint Louis 58°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Saint Louis and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Saint Louis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 58°F (15°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 60°F (16°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (77 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.