Comparison · Montego Bay vs Nassau · Jamaica / Bahamas
Montego Bay vs Nassau
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Montego Bay for Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip and lower day-to-day costs; choose Nassau for Atlantis Paradise Island, Junkanoo and a short break. Montego Bay is generally less expensive, and the two are about 732 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 732 km
- Less expensive
- Montego Bay
- Best time for Montego Bay
- December–April
- Best time for Nassau
- December–April
Side by side
| Montego Bay | Nassau | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jamaica | Bahamas |
| Known for | Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip and Jerk cooking | Atlantis Paradise Island, Junkanoo and Conch |
| Best time to visit | December–April | December–April |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$350 | $280–$500 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 25°C (77°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | Doctor's Cave Beach | Cabbage Beach |
| Airports | MBJ, KIN | NAS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Montego Bay for…
Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip and lower day-to-day costs. Montego Bay, on Jamaica's northwest coast, is where most visitors to the island arrive, through Sangster International Airport on the edge of town. The Hip Strip along Gloucester Avenue has Doctor's Cave Beach, bars and jerk stands; the historic downtown…
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Choose Nassau for…
Atlantis Paradise Island, Junkanoo and a short break. Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, sits on the north shore of New Providence island. Its compact downtown along Bay Street has pink colonial government buildings, the Straw Market and the cruise-ship piers at Prince George Wharf, with 18th-century forts on…
Top sights compared
| # | Montego Bay | Nassau |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor's Cave Beach | Atlantis Aquaventure |
| 2 | Hip Strip | Cabbage Beach |
| 3 | Rose Hall Great House | Junkanoo Beach |
| 4 | Greenwood Great House | Queen's Staircase |
| 5 | Sam Sharpe Square | Fort Fincastle |
Food compared
| Montego Bay | Nassau |
|---|---|
| Jerk chicken and pork | Conch salad |
| Ackee and saltfish | Cracked conch |
| Curry goat | Conch fritters |
| Escovitch fish | Peas 'n' rice |
Which is cheaper?
Montego Bay is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $180–$350 per person there, against $280–$500 in Nassau (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Montego Bay on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 732 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montego Bay or Nassau cheaper?
Montego Bay is usually less expensive: about $180–$350 a day mid-range against $280–$500 (estimates).
+Is Montego Bay or Nassau better for a first trip?
Pick Montego Bay for Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip and lower day-to-day costs, or Nassau for Atlantis Paradise Island, Junkanoo and a short break.
+How far is Montego Bay from Nassau?
About 732 km in a straight line.