Jamaica on a Budget | How to travel Jamaica for Cheap
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Last Updated on February 7, 2025 by Tiffany
There are many gorgeous islands in the Caribbean, but Jamaica is easily one of my favorites. And I’m not just saying that because I’m Jamaican! Traveling Jamaica on a budget is possible even though it’s typically known to be quite a pricey island. Let me share all my budget travel tips with you to have a memorable and affordable vacation inna Jamaica!
The key to budget travel in Jamaica is knowing a bit of the ins and outs and being willing to travel as a local. Much of the Caribbean prioritizes luxury travellers, but its still possible to have an amazing budget backpacker vacation in Jamaica!
These tips are going to teach you not just how to save money while traveling in Jamaica, but how to see the real Jamaica. I truly believe that if you go to a country but stay in your resort the whole time, you didn’t actually go to that country. So here is a guide to an authentic Jamaica off the beaten path, on a budget!
Things to know before your trip- Jamaica on a Budget
Like the USA is divided into states, Jamaica is divided into parishes. Learn them and their capitals if you want to see more than one part of the island.
Cash is EVERYTHING. Make sure you have a good amount of it in JMD. Don’t exchange at the airport, their rates are horrible. I always take out cash at the atm. If you need to exchange a foreign currency to JMD, wait until you get in the city and go to a Cambio.
Cat calling is heavy (and annoying AF). As a Jamaican woman, I commonly get catcalled and it’s one of my least favorite aspects of our culture. This is one aspect to genuinely take into consideration.
Jamaican people speak Patwa aka patois. Lots of people don’t consider it its own language. However, as a gyal who speaks English, Spanish, and Kiswahili, I 100% consider Patwa as a separate language from English. It’s a creole with a base of English and has influences from West African languages as well as Portuguese.
Jamaica is very vegan friendly! Lots of travellers have said they’v struggled to find good veggie/vegan food on the island. The thing is, in Jamaica a plant based diet is called ital, not vegan. If you’re looking for affordable, authentic, meat free bites, ask locals about ital restaurants around, not ‘vegan’.
Music is playing everyday from early in the rising to late at night. If you’re staying in a hotel or airbnb and are a light sleeper, be sure to invest in some good ear plugs! Otherwise, your alarm will more than likely be some Vybz Kartel or old school reggae music around 7 AM.
Make sure to negotiate prices! Never settle for the first price, especially if it seems like a bogus amount.
Be nice and ask locals for advice. Whenever I’m traveling to Jamaica, I always ask how they’re doing/how their day is going. Not only is it polite, it can genuinely light up someone’s day. Don’t be afraid to talk to locals, Jamaicans are friendly and always willing to help!
Why visit Jamaica? – Jamaica on a budget
Ummmmmmm hello?! Jamaica is one of the most vibey, gorgeous, and rich countries inna di world! From blue rivers deep in the jungle to crystal clear beaches, Jamaica will always be one of my favorite countries.
The culture of Jamaica is so rich and the people are friendly, it’s always a great time when mi go a yaad. Plus, the country is extremely veggie friendly due to the Rastafari plant based ital diet so everyone can always find something to eat!
There are quite a few hostels decorated around the island making Jamaica one of the few Caribbean islands that are backpacker friendly.
Stay in Hostels
Hostels are basically like hotels, but targeted towards budget travellers and solo travelers. As a gyal who has traveled to over 27 countries, I always stay in hostels. They’re basically like a more adventurous hotel, but you share a bunk bed with others in the room.
I have no problem with this because as a solo female traveler, I feel much safer in a room with other solo female travellers. Also, I literally only go to my room to sleep and am out on the road having fun or in the communal living room of the hostel.
Some people think hostels are scary and even dangerous (even though they’ve never stayed in a hostel before) but it’s quite the opposite. All of my bad travel experiences in Jamaica have surprisingly come from crazy airbnbs and crappy hotels!
From a giant cockroach in the FRIDGE of my airbnb ($100 a night might I add). To being yelled at by a crazy host, I easily prefer hostels. They have kitchens to cook (and save money) and are often located in great spots. I have had no issues with hostels in Jamaica or anywhere else. As a solo female traveler who travels about 5-6 months out of the year, hostels are the way to go.
Many hotels in Jamaica usually range from the $100 to $300 per night range, even for basic, not impressive rooms. On the contrary, hostels in Jamaica range between the $20 – $25 per night range.
Book a Private Room in a Hostel- Jamaica on a Budget
Okay, say sharing a room with 5 other people isn’t your thing. I totally innerstand! When I’m traveling for more than two consecutive months, I’ll often take breaks and book a private room in a hostel.
In Jamaica, private rooms in hostels are MUCH cheaper than in hotels! For example, a private room in a hostel might cost $40 per night but a hotel down the road can cost a whopping $150.
It’s always good to dip your feet in when it comes to hostels. Try one night in a bunk bed dorm. If its not your thing, book a private room for the rest of your stay and make new friends in the communal area!
Use points to book your flight- Jamaica on a Budget
Would you believe me when I say my ticket from Atlanta, Georgia to Montego Bay, Jamaica was only $83 with bags included?! Not to toot my own horn but I’ve become pretty efficient with booking my travels via points. The key is to sign up for the rewards program of an airline you typically travel with.
I always fly with Frontier when I go to Jamaica because they offer direct flights from my city. Within a few months, I have enough points to cover over half or almost all of my trip! This hack helps with not only Jamaica, but every country in the world.
Stay away from super expensive tours
Jamaica offers very expensive tours, I’m often shocked when I look at prices for some activities! While these tours are typically awesome and a lot of fun, they are not for people looking to travel on a budget.
If you’re on a budget and want to make your money stretch, try to do things the local way. While staying at a hostel in Portland Parish, I met a few of my roommates and we went on some epic hikes for completely FREE. Deep inside the Jamaican jungle with lush rivers, this was probably the most authentic fun I’ve had in the country.
Take public transportation- Jamaica on a Budget
There are numerous services to arrange a private taxi to drive you from one parish to another. However, these can host hundreds of US dollars during your trip. There are two main (affordable) ways to travel from parish to parish in Jamaica: the local bus and the Knutsford express coach.
The Knutsford coach bus is perfect for tourists because they always play a movie, offer wifi, and are air-conditioned. Prices range from $15 USD – $30 USD, often with a discount for students. This is a much better price than private cars that can average about $30 for a 10 minute ride.
I only recommend the local bus to those who are ready for a REAL local Jamaican experience. It’s pretty cramped and slightly uncomfortable, but the route taken always offers beautiful scenery! Prices can range from $500 JMD – $ $750 JMD (a couple American bucks).
As I’ve stayed in hostels across the islands, I’ve met plenty of tourists who’ve successfully taken the local bus with no issue. It really just depends on the traveller. If you’re a middle class family of four, definitely book your Knutsford a week in advance (they tend to sell out quick). On the contrary, a solo traveler with a backpack and tight for cash, you can easily enjoy the ride on a local bus!
To get around within the city, there is Uber and indrive apps but only in Montego Bay and Kingston. They’re pretty affordable and reliable too! I definitely recommend using these apps when getting off at the airport. When I landed in Mobay, my hostel was about 20 minutes away. I ordered a drive on the indrive app and it was only $650 JMD or about $4 USD. Don’t let the taxi mandem thief up yuh money and charge $40 USD fi di same ride.
In cities without driver apps, there are also route taxis. These can be found on the main road and will often time get you where you need to be typically range from $100 JMD – $500 JMD per ride.
Get a foreign transaction free travel credit card- Jamaica on a Budget
Boy oh boy have I saved literally hundreds (and possibly thousands!) of US dollars because of my credit card! I used to pay transaction fees every time I swiped. Though they may only be a couple of dollars at the time, at the end of the trip it certainly adds up! On top of being liberated from pesky foreign transaction fees, you also get great cash back!
To qualify for a good travel credit card, you must have good credit, typically 650 and above. The only card I know that accepts a bit lower is Discover, but they’re not accepted everywhere in Jamaica. Don’t worry if you don’t at the time, make it a goal to work on your score and apply for your dream card when you’re ready!
Make a budget (and actually sitck to it!!)
A lot of people go on vacation knowing they don’t have a lot to spend yet “somehow” end up with $3,000 USD in credit card debt. To avoid this, make a budget AND actually stick to it!
You can easily make simple budgets in the notes feature of your phone or download budgeting apps that track every penny you spend. When you’re on a budget in Jamaica, try to aim for about $10,000 JMD or around $63 USD or less. This can be possible with accommodation, transportation, and food if you follow the tips in this article.
Eat Local Food
Is this even something I have to say? Jamaican food is seriously some of the best cuisine on the planet, and I’m not just saying this because I’m Jamaican! From spicy jerk to well seasoned curry, Jamaica is a place that all foodies will love.
Local street food can range from $400 JMD to $1,500 JMD. This is nearly a 1/3 of the price that tourist targeted restaurants charge! Plus, I find that local food has a lot more love and care put into their cooking compared to mass chain restaurants like Margaritaville.
Negotiate with locals- Jamaica on a Budget
When traveling, too many people settle for the first price and later learn they were scammed. I’m always negotiating whether for a tour or at the market. Typically, when they see you have an accent, the price goes up.
If the seller is willing to negotiate with you, that usually means they were hiking up the price. If they’re not willing to negotiate, that can also mean that their original offer was the usual price (or they’re just being stubborn).
Pay in Jamaican dollars, not USD
A lot of tourists typically travel with foreign money or USD and I’ve found locals in markets and etc prefer JMD. Also, when paying with USD in restaurants or elsewhere, their exchange rate is usually horribly low.
I have a debit card that has no ATM or foreign transaction fees, so taking money out from the bank is no issue. For Americans, there are two banks that offer this: Charles Schwab and Betterment. Don’t walk around with too much cash at one time and always make sire you’re carrying JMD. A lot of places are still cash only and you don’t want to be caught lacking.
Study price points for certain items- Jamaica on a Budget
Jamaica will become a whole heap cheaper if you know the actual price for certain items! If something is typically $500 JMD but a vendor is trying to sell you for $1500 JMD, at least you will know!
This tip usually applies to other countries as well. If you can’t do further research before arrival, ask locals once you arrive. When I was at a hostel, one of my roommates wanted to do horseback riding. A company was trying to charge a whopping $80 USD when in reality is was about $20.
To make sure you continue to travel Jamaica on a budget and don’t get got, be updated with certain price points.
Visit Free Beaches
Unfortunately, many beaches in Jamaica come at an extra price tag. I love my country but this is definitely one of the few things that really irritate me about Jamaican tourism. Luckily, there are still a few beaches that operate free to the public.
Make sure to do your research for different areas and keep a lookout for beautiful and complementary beaches.
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