Comparison · Montego Bay vs Turks and Caicos · Jamaica / Turks and Caicos Islands
Montego Bay vs Turks and Caicos
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, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Turks and Caicos for Grace Bay and Turquoise water. Montego Bay is generally less expensive, and the two are about 693 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 693 km
- Less expensive
- Montego Bay
- Best time for Montego Bay
- December–April
- Best time for Turks and Caicos
- April–June
Side by side
| Montego Bay | Turks and Caicos | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jamaica | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Known for | Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip and Jerk cooking | Grace Bay, Turquoise water and Barrier reef |
| Best time to visit | December–April | April–June |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$350 | $300–$550 |
| 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, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 3 |
| Beaches | Doctor's Cave Beach | Grace Bay Beach |
| Airports | MBJ, KIN | PLS, GDT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Montego Bay for…
Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. 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 Turks and Caicos for…
Grace Bay and Turquoise water. The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory of low, limestone islands and cays southeast of the Bahamas, surrounded by one of the largest barrier reef systems in the region. Most visitors stay on Providenciales ('Provo'), where Grace Bay's…
Top sights compared
| # | Montego Bay | Turks and Caicos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor's Cave Beach | Grace Bay Beach |
| 2 | Hip Strip | Bight Reef (Coral Gardens) |
| 3 | Rose Hall Great House | Smith's Reef |
| 4 | Greenwood Great House | Chalk Sound National Park |
| 5 | Sam Sharpe Square | Sapodilla Bay |
Food compared
| Montego Bay | Turks and Caicos |
|---|---|
| Jerk chicken and pork | Conch salad |
| Ackee and saltfish | Cracked conch |
| Curry goat | Conch fritters |
| Escovitch fish | Spiny lobster |
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 $300–$550 in Turks and Caicos (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Montego Bay on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Montego Bay and Turks and Caicos are about 693 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Montego Bay and 7 in Turks and Caicos.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montego Bay or Turks and Caicos cheaper?
Montego Bay is usually less expensive: about $180–$350 a day mid-range against $300–$550 (estimates).
+Is Montego Bay or Turks and Caicos better for a first trip?
Pick Montego Bay for Doctor's Cave Beach, Hip Strip, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Turks and Caicos for Grace Bay and Turquoise water.
+How far is Montego Bay from Turks and Caicos?
About 693 km in a straight line.