Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Negril?
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 Negril or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Cancun. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Negril or Cancun?
Negril
Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $150Cancun $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $150, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $153. 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 Negril and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $102Cancun $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $204Cancun $178
Compare Hotels in Negril and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Cancun? 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: Negril Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.39Cancun $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:
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Taxi From Airport$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril
Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandals South Coast Private Transfer (White House): $83
- Roundtrip Transfer To or From Jam West Adventure: $100
- Roundtrip MBJ Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Hotel Riu Negril: $95
- Round-trip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort & Spa: $75
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
- Private Transfer from Sangster Intl Airport to Negril Jamaica: $60
- Private Transfer from Negril to Jamaica (MBJ) Airport: $176
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport - Negril Hotels: $58
- Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Grand Palladium Hotel: $38
- Private Transfer between Hedonism ll Resort and Airport : $53
- Private Transfer From or To Airport to Rui Negril : $61
- Private Negril Hotels Transfer from Montego Bay (MBJ)Airport: $54
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to Tulum (Round Trip): $250
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum : $243
- Xcaret 1 Day Tour from Cancun with Hotel Transfer: $228
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer One Way: To or From Akumal Area Up to 15 Pass.: $225
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
- Round private transfer Airport- Akumal - Airport.: $220
- Private Round Trip Transfer (Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen): $219
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $215
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to El Dorado Maroma - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Private round airport transfer from Cancun - Puerto Aventuras - airport.: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Negril 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 dayNegril $38Cancun $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner in the Sky Jamaica Round Trip Taxi & Guide only: $42
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
- Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
- Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150
- Local food tour and local fields : $164
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Drink & Cook Authentic Dishes: $85
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Cancun $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril
For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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2 Hr Horseback Ride$42
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise : $60
- YS Falls and Sightseeing Tour Day Adventure: $138
- 7Mile Beach/Ricks Cafe Tour with Free Shopping from Montego Bay: $115
- ATV's, Shopping, Seven Mile Beach,Catamaran Cruise to Ricks Cafe : $130
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour: $113
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Negril: $232
- Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $156
- Bambuza ATV, Zipline and Horseback Adventure from Negril: $190
- Benta River & Falls Private Tour From Montego Bay/Negril: $150
- Black River Safari & YS Falls Guided Tour with Lunch & Admission from Negril: $145
- Black River Safari and YS Falls Tour from Negril: $232
- Blue Hole Secret Falls and Dunns River Falls Adventure: $134
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $260
- 3 in 1 Tour to Coba Cenote and Maya Village: $149
- Atv tour from Cancun with ziplines and cenote swim experience: $30
- Cancun Private Street Art Tour: $65
- Clear Boat Tour in Cancun 1.5 hours great for pictures: $19
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Holbox plus Island Magic by boat Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $215
- Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos Day Tour from Cancun: $105
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.74Cancun $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Negril
Also in Negril, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl: $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $35
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $99
When comparing the travel costs between Negril and Cancun, we can see that Cancun 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 Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Cancun 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 Negril Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Cancun?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Cancun, 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.
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.