Which place is cheaper, Tampa 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 Tampa?
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 Tampa 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 Tampa?
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.
Tampa
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesTampa Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Tampa $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Tampa is $218. 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 Tampa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Tampa $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Tampa $170
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Tampa
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Tampa? 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 Tampa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Tampa $69
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- TPA Airport Private Transfer to Tampa(downtown): $33
- Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA): $36
- St. Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Clearwater Beach to St.Pete–Clearwater Airport (PIE) -Departure Private Transfer: $41
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $50
- Private Transfer from Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa hotels: $59
- St Petersburg to Tampa Airport (TPA) -Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Lakeland / Winter Haven to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Tampa hotel or address to Tampa Airport (TPA) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Clearwater Beach - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Tampa?
Prices for flights to both Tampa 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 $139Tampa $92
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tampa
For Tampa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ybor City Food Tour with 5 Local Delicacies Tastings: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Tampa $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:
- 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 Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historic Ybor City Self Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Ybor City Immigrant influence Smart Phone guided App (GPS) walking tour: $9.75
- Tampa's Highlights Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.99
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Tampa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Tampa Riverwalk Private Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Tampa with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Tampa Bay Lightning Ice Hockey Game Ticket: $23
- Tides of Tethered Terror: Tampa Ghost Tours: $24
- Selfie WRLD Admission Ticket: $25
- ZooTampa at Lowry Park Ticket with After Hours Option: $30
- Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour: $31
- Tampa History Cruise: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Tampa $26
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 Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
- Tampa Bar Hunt: Tampa Takeover Bar Crawl: $12
- Naples Bar Crawl Experience: $15
- Tampa Terrors: Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Tampa Terrors Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Wine Tasting Experience in Historic Ybor: $40
- Tampa Bar Crawl on New Street Legal Golf Cart: $40
- Downtown 3-Hour Food and Wine Tour: $145
- Tampa's Top Dive Bar Tour Experience by Golf Cart: $275
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Tampa, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Tampa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Tampa 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 Tampa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tampa 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 Tampa.
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 Tampa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Tampa?
Tampa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Tampa, 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 Tampa?
Tampa 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 Tampa in the Summer?
Both Tampa 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. Also, many visitors come to Tampa in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Montego Bay is around the same temperature as Tampa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montego Bay in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Tampa averages at about 82°F (28°C).
In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tampa. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tampa receives 265 hours of full sun.
Tampa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than Tampa. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tampa receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Tampa 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Tampa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Tampa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, most visitors come to Tampa for the city's sights and attractions during these months.
In October, Montego Bay is generally a little warmer than Tampa. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 27°C (81°F), and Tampa fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa 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 Tampa during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Tampa receives 234 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Tampa. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Tampa 75°F (24°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Tampa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Tampa. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Tampa because of the cuisine.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Tampa in the winter. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Tampa fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Tampa. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tampa receives 200 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than Tampa. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Tampa 60°F (15°C)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Tampa in the Spring?
Both Tampa 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. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Tampa this time of year.
In the spring, Montego Bay is a little warmer than Tampa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montego Bay in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Tampa averages at about 71°F (22°C).
It's quite sunny in Tampa. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than Tampa during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Tampa receives 299 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than Tampa. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Tampa 71°F (22°C)
Typical Weather for Tampa and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Tampa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.