Which place is cheaper, Ensenada 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 Ensenada?
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 Ensenada. 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 Ensenada?
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!
Ensenada
Ensenada is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Tijuana. It's the only deep water port in the state of Baja California and as such, it is an important commerical fishing port as well as a cruise ship destination. The city has a population of almost 500,000 and is located just 78 miles south of San Diego. The city sits between the ocean and a small mountain range. The surrounding area is known for its wine production, which produces some of the best wine in Mexico.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesEnsenada Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $150Ensenada $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $150, while the average daily cost in Ensenada is $115. 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 Ensenada in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $102Ensenada $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $204Ensenada $84
Compare Hotels in Negril and Ensenada
Looking for a hotel in Negril or Ensenada? 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 Ensenada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.39Ensenada $19
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:
- Airport Transfer To Negril: $60
- Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer 1 Way: $23
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Negril Resorts Transfer 1 way: $33
- Convenient Airport Transfer To Hotels in Negril : $75
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer : $45
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer : $40
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $200
- Grand Palladium Jamaica & Lady Hamilton MBj Airport Transfer: $60
- Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $15
- Grand Palladium Jamaica Private Transfers : $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ensenada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ensenada:
- Border and Tijuana Airport Transfers to Ensenada or Valle de Guadalupe: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Ensenada?
Prices for flights to both Ensenada 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 $38Ensenada $61
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
- Local food tour and local fields : $164
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ensenada
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ensenada.
- Mexican Cooking Class at Hacienda Eco-Domes | Valle de Guadalupe: $84
- Tacos and Margaritas Food Tour in Ensenada Mexico: $85
- Cooking Class and Margarita Madness at Valle de Guadalupe : $89
- Surprises, Delights and Joys Ensenada Wine, Mezcal, and Food Tour: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Ensenada $9.79
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.
- Rockland's Bird Sanctuary Tour from Montego Bay/ Falmouth: $56
- Private Seven Mile Beach and Rick’s Café Tour From Negril Hotels: $59
- Negril Beach Experience & Rick's Cafe from Negril: $59
- Private Negril Beach Experience and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $60
- Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
- Rick's Cafe Sunset Cruise : $60
- Negril Glass Bottom Boat Tour Snorkeling and Booby Cay: $65
- Private Negril Highlights Tour: $75
- Zimbali's Rasta Tour Lunch: $75
- Private Guided 2-Hour Tour in Montego Bay: $77
- Rose Hall Great House and Glistening Waters Luminous Lagoon Tour : $80
- Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe : $82
Tours and Activities in Ensenada
Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Explore Ensenada with Private Car and Walking Tour: $65
- 10 Hour Private Tour in ensenada, bufadora or valle de guadalupe: $290
- ATV Mountain Tour: $70
- ATV Off Road Adventure Shore Excursion Optional Taco Stop: $119
- ATV Off-Road Adventure through Valle de Guadalupe + Winery Visit: $77
- ATV'S on the Mountain with Ocean View Private Tour: $110
- Adventure in Ensenada with Zipline, Marine Geyser and Shops: $99
- Canopy Ziplines Tour in Las Cañadas Private Tour: $89
- Couple Tour: $116
- Ensenada City Tour on Ford T Replica and Beach Horse Back Riding : $120
- Ensenada Pvt City Tour w Tacos, Culture, Sites +Massage add ons : $119
- Ensenada Shore Excursion: Blowhole and La Bufadora Tour with Horseback Riding: $168
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.74Ensenada $9.98
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 Ensenada
Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Experience in Maglén: $27
- Tractor Pull Around Vineyards and Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Private Ensenada Tacos and Wine Tour : $109
- Valle de Guadalupe Wine Experience: Wine Tastings Included: $112
- Valle de Guadalupe COUPLES wine tasting for 2: $135
- wine tours and driver service through valle de guadalupe, Ensenada B.C. Mexico: $145
- Pvt Wine Tastings + Cheese Store + Massage Shore Excursion: $149
- Wine Tasting Tour ONLY for Cruise Ship Visitors. ALL INCLUSIVE!: $221
- Private and custom group Wine tour Valle de Guadalupe : $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Ensenada, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Ensenada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Ensenada 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 Ensenada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ensenada 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 Negril would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Negril than you might in Ensenada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Ensenada Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Ensenada?
Ensenada has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Ensenada, 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.