Which place is cheaper, Punta Cana or Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios or Punta Cana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Punta Cana, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ocho Rios or Punta Cana?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesPunta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $85Punta Cana $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $85, while the average daily cost in Punta Cana is $170. 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 Ocho Rios and Punta Cana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $51Punta Cana $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $102Punta Cana $190
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Punta Cana
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Punta Cana? 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Punta Cana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.32Punta Cana $6.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer [VIP LUXURY Vehicles]: $158
- Private Airport Transfer to Bahia Principe Grand Hotel : $100
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Ocho Rios: $90
- Airport Transfer - From MBJ to Ocho Rios Hotels: $80
- Airport Transfer To Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & Negril: $140
- Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica Private Airport transfer : $61
- Bahia Principe Grand and Luxury Airport Transfer: $80
- Blue Hole Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting Tour Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $100
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $117
- Dunn's River Falls And Shopping Tour From Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $60
- Grand Bahia Jamaica Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $300
- Grand Bahia Principe Hotel Airport Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Private Transfer from Punta Cana PUJ to Samana: $299
- Roundtrip VIP Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $270
- La Romana port transfers (combined transfers: airport-hotel-port): $266
- Private Transfer from puntacana AirPort to Bayahibe/romana: $260
- Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $257
- Transfers From Punta Cana Airport (PUJ)<=>To All place at Juan Dolio: $255
- Private Round Trip Punta Cana Airport to Uvero Alto Villa/Hotel Transfer: $250
- Private car transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Santo Domingo: $250
- Roundtrip VIP transfers from Punta Cana to uvero alto and bavaro: $230
- Transfers From Las America Airport AILA SDQ<=>To All Place at Punta Cana: $227
- Private Transfer from Punta Cana to La Altagracia Province: $220
- Punta Cana to Bayahibe transfer: $191
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Punta Cana?
Prices for flights to both Punta Cana and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $28Punta Cana $64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $130
- Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Punta Cana $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.27
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$17
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour : $21
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Skip-The-Line: Dunn's River Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Transportation to Horse Back Ride & Swim Adventure from Ocho Rios: $45
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios: $50
- Jamaican Escapade Experience Dunn's River's Natural Majesty: $50
- Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
- Private Ocho Rios highlights and beach day tour: $51
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$51
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adventure:4x4 ATV Cave and Dominican Culture At Punta Cana: $40
- Enjoy Our Tours Higuey City Cultural : $45
- Explore Punta Cana Buggy or ATV Adventure in Macao: $59
- Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo with Lunch.: $70
- Full Experience Hacienda – 6 Exciting Adventures: $90
- Full-Day Boat Tour of Los Haitises National Park: $165
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour: $89
- Half Day Higuey City Tour from Punta Cana with Pick Up: $82
- Macao Beach private horseback tour in punta cana : $55
- Private ATV Tour from Punta Cana : $250
- Tours Parasailing Punta Cana: $99
- Tours Ziplines Punta Cana : $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.43Punta Cana $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
- Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $100
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana
Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Punta Cana, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana than you might in Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Punta Cana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Punta Cana?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Punta Cana, 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.