Comparison · Montego Bay vs Saint Lucia · Jamaica / Saint Lucia
Montego Bay vs Saint Lucia
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 and Hip Strip; choose Saint Lucia for The Pitons and Honeymoons. Montego Bay is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,875 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,875 km
- Less expensive
- Montego Bay
- Best time for Montego Bay
- December–April
- Best time for Saint Lucia
- January–April
Side by side
| Montego Bay | Saint Lucia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jamaica | Saint Lucia |
| Known for | Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip and Jerk cooking | The Pitons, Honeymoons and Sulphur Springs |
| Best time to visit | December–April | January–April |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$350 | $200–$400 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | April, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 29°C (84°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 3 |
| Beaches | Doctor's Cave Beach | Reduit Beach |
| Airports | MBJ, KIN | UVF, SLU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Montego Bay for…
Doctor's Cave Beach and Hip Strip. 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…
Choose Saint Lucia for…
The Pitons and Honeymoons. Saint Lucia is a mountainous volcanic island in the Windward Islands, about 40 km long, best known for the Pitons — two forested volcanic spires rising from the sea near Soufrière, at the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The calm Caribbean west coast…
Top sights compared
| # | Montego Bay | Saint Lucia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor's Cave Beach | The Pitons |
| 2 | Hip Strip | Gros Piton hike |
| 3 | Rose Hall Great House | Sulphur Springs |
| 4 | Greenwood Great House | Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens |
| 5 | Sam Sharpe Square | Tet Paul Nature Trail |
Food compared
| Montego Bay | Saint Lucia |
|---|---|
| Jerk chicken and pork | Green fig and saltfish |
| Ackee and saltfish | Bouyon |
| Curry goat | Accra |
| Escovitch fish | Bakes and saltfish |
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 $200–$400 in Saint Lucia (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Montego Bay on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,875 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 15 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montego Bay or Saint Lucia cheaper?
Montego Bay is usually less expensive: about $180–$350 a day mid-range against $200–$400 (estimates).
+Is Montego Bay or Saint Lucia better for a first trip?
Pick Montego Bay for Doctor's Cave Beach and Hip Strip, or Saint Lucia for The Pitons and Honeymoons.
+How far is Montego Bay from Saint Lucia?
About 1,875 km in a straight line.