Which place is cheaper, South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe?
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 South Lake Tahoe. 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 South Lake Tahoe?
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!
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is the largest town on the famous Lake Tahoe that straddles the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Mountain Range. Located just south of Reno, Nevada and about 2 hours east of Sacramento, the Lake Tahoe area is easily accessible to many visitors.
Lake Tahoe is known for skiing and other winter sports, as well as plenty of warm weather activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, mountain biking, and more.
South Lake Tahoe has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shopping. This is a good town to base yourself if you're looking to explore the area, as it has a large number of amenities.
Located on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe is the town of Stateline. Here you can find some casinos, as gambling is legal in Nevada.
If you're looking to go skiing or snowboarding, the Heavenly Ski Resort can be found on the southern edge of the town of South Lake Tahoe. Naturally, more ski resorts are located around the lake as well.
As swimming is also popular, several beach areas are on the southern section of the lake including the Regan Memorial City Beach, Lakeside Beach, Pope Beach, Emerald Bay State Park, and the Edgewood Resort area (on the Nevada side).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesSouth Lake Tahoe Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $150South Lake Tahoe $146
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $150, while the average daily cost in South Lake Tahoe is $146. 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 South Lake Tahoe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $102South Lake Tahoe $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $204South Lake Tahoe $108
Compare Hotels in Negril and South Lake Tahoe
Looking for a hotel in Negril or South Lake Tahoe? 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 South Lake Tahoe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.39South Lake Tahoe $24
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:
- Grand Palladium Jamaica - Lady Hamilton Airport Transfer MBJ ***: $15
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Grand Palladium Transfer 1 Way: $23
- Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $25
- MBJ Airport Private transfers to any Hotels in Negril: $29
- Grand Palladium Jamaica Private Transfers : $29
- Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $30
- Comfortable Montego Bay Airport to Negril Resorts Transfer 1 way: $33
- MBJ Airport Private Transfers to any Negril Hotels: $34
- Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
- Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Grand Palladium Hotel: $38
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or South Lake Tahoe?
Prices for flights to both South Lake Tahoe 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 $38South Lake Tahoe $66
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 South Lake Tahoe
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in South Lake Tahoe.
- Persian Cooking Class with Private Chef: $120
- Lake Tahoe Evening Dinner Cruise: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26South Lake Tahoe $56
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 South Lake Tahoe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for South Lake Tahoe are as follows:
- Clear Kayak Paddle Tour at Cave Rock: $110
- "Lake Tahoe 101" : See The Whole Lake! 6 HR Shared Tour by Van.: $199
- 2 Hour Sailing Cruise on Lake Tahoe: $140
- Clear Kayak Paddle Tour: $150
- Clear Kayak Tour: $140
- Eco Canoe Tour: $258
- Electric Dirtbike Adventure in Lake Tahoe: $200
- Emerald Bay Helicopter Tour of Lake Tahoe: $139
- Emerald Bay Private Boat Tours: $690
- Full-Day Lake Tahoe Circle Tour including Squaw Valley: $70
- Guided Scenic Bike Experience above Lake Tahoe's East Shore: $205
- Guided Snowshoe Experience in Lake Tahoe: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.74South Lake Tahoe $34
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 South Lake Tahoe
Also in South Lake Tahoe, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Scavenger Adventure and Lake Tahoe Bar Crawl: $15
- Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Sunset Wine Tasting Yacht Cruise: $150
When comparing the travel costs between Negril and South Lake Tahoe, we can see that Negril 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 South Lake Tahoe 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 South Lake Tahoe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and South Lake Tahoe, 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.