Which place is cheaper, Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Montego Bay Prices
Jamaica PricesVancouver Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $255Vancouver $165
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $255, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $165. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $100Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $200Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $14Vancouver $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Kingston: One Way Private Transfer to Montego Bay Airport: $319
- Mercedes Benz Sprinter Airport Transfer: $300
- Chevy Suburban Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $300
- Club Night Life Round-Trip Private Transfer in Montego Bay : $300
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport To Ocho Rios: $267
- Ocho Rios Hotels / Resort - Airport Transfers: $267
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Negril (Round Trip): $225
- Private Transfer To/From Montego Bay & Airport MBJ Across Jamaica: $215
- Luxury Montego Bay Airport Transfers – Reliable & Affordable: $200
- Iberostar Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $200
- Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling & Private Transfer Montego Bay: $200
- Private Airport Transfers To and From Kingston (KIN) Airport: $200
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.35
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.71
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer from/to Squamish: $26
- Bus Transfer from/to Whistler: $26
- Private Arrival Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Group Transfer to/from Vancouver International Airport (YVR): $33
- Private Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $34
- Private Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR): $34
- Private Airport Transfer to/from YVR Airport: $45
- Private Transfer from Vancouver Hotels to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $47
- Private Transfer from Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Vancouver hotels: $47
- Vancouver hotel/address to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $63
- Private Transfer - Canada Place Cruise Terminal: $72
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $139Vancouver $54
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
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $75
- Mt Pleasant Food Tour from Vancouver: $81
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $82
- Vancouver Street Food Tour in Mount Pleasant Neighborhood: $92
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $96
- Food Tours Gastown & Downtown with 6+ tastings: $98
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $98
- Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour: $100
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $114
- Granville Island Market VIP Walking Food Tour : $114
- Private Granville Island Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $132
- Vancouver Chinatown Tour and Dumpling-Making Cooking Class : $135
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $31Vancouver $36
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
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Stanley Park Self Guided Bike Tour: $3.58
- Gratuity-Based Vancouver City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour: $4.00
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.66
- Stanley Park Self Guided Walking Tour: $5.27
- Granville Island Lost LP Exploration Game and Tour: $6.59
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.59
- Bloedel Conservatory Admission Ticket: $6.93
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.17
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.32
- Vancouver to Whistler Private Self Guided Audio Tour: $7.32
- Vancouver Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Underground Comedy Club Entry Ticket: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Vancouver $16
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 Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver British Columbia Bar Crawl: $15
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $86
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- North Vancouver Elite Walking Brewery Tour: $95
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $121
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $129
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour from Vancouver with a Light Lunch : $132
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $135
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Tastings: $161
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Vancouver, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands and Vancouver 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
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 Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as Vancouver. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Vancouver for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montego Bay this time of the year. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Vancouver in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Montego Bay is much warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. It's quite rainy in Montego Bay. In October, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Montego Bay during the winter 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, most visitors come to Vancouver for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Vancouver can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Montego Bay is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Vancouver because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Montego Bay is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.