Cities in the Caribbean Islands: Travel Cost Rankings

What are the cheapest cities to visit in the Caribbean Islands?

The following travel cost rankings for cities in the Caribbean Islands are calculated based on the travel budgets of real travelers. Also referred to as a Travel Cost Index, or a Backpacker Index, the cities below are in order from least to most expensive by their average daily travel price, per person, per day

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  • 1
    Havana, Cuba
    $65.23
  • Havana Havana, Cuba
    The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US). This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step...
  • 2
    Ocho Rios, Jamaica
    $77.37
  • 3
    Mandeville, Jamaica
    $81.32
  • 4
    Kingston, Jamaica
    $109.70
  • 5
    Negril, Jamaica
    $140.77
  • 6
    Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe
    $152.71
  • 7
    Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe
    $157.44
  • 8
    Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
    $164.51
  • 9
    Fort-de-France, Martinique
    $165.42
  • 10
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius), Caribbean Netherlands
    $187.58
  • 11
    Nassau, Bahamas
    $189.30
  • 12
    San Juan, Puerto Rico
    $191.77
  • 13
    Saint John, US Virgin Islands
    $191.88
  • 14
    Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe
    $195.67
  • 15
    Ponce, Puerto Rico
    $204.83
  • 16
    Montego Bay, Jamaica
    $205.23
  • Montego Bay Montego Bay, Jamaica
    As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
  • 17
    Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    $214.92
  • 18
    Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands
    $218.23
  • Saint Thomas St. Thomas, USVI
    Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population. Saint Thomas's temperature is relatively consistent throughout the year....
  • 19
    Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda
    $222.30
  • 20
    Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands
    $236.47
  • Saint Croix St. Croix
    Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix. The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors,...
  • 21
    $340.80
What are the cheapest cities to visit in the Caribbean Islands?

The most affordable cities for travel in the Caribbean Islands are currently Havana (Cuba), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Mandeville (Jamaica), Kingston (Jamaica), and Negril (Jamaica).


Affordable Travel in the Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean is one of those places that should be on everyone's bucket list. The blue seas, the white sand beaches and alluring winter sun experience may seem like an unbelievably expensive holiday. Saint Barthelemy is one of the most expensive Caribbean island, and it has only a handful of small hotels, because most guests rent villas and condos instead. In reality, there are a few cheaper hotels here, but in-season this is really a scene best suited for those who are not on a budget. Flights are also expensive because you have to change planes nearby just to reach Saint Barthelemy. Only a few miles off St. Martin, Anguilla is a small and beautiful island that is near the upper end of the price scale for all of the Caribbean. Flights are expensive, though you can get here by ferry from St. Martin, but hotels are all very expensive as well. A few of the resorts here and in St Martin are among the priciest in all of the Caribbean. The Bahamas along with the British Virgin Islands (Tortola) and the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas, St Croix) are also not recommended for budget travellers.

However, in reality a trip to the Caribbean doesn't have to cost the earth if you don't want it too. Getting to the exotic island hub is no hassle at all since there are numerous direct flight packages offering hefty discounts and interesting perks. The Caribbean is brimming with beautiful marine life including bottlenose dolphins, coral, rays, turtles and rainbow coloured tropical fish. Festivals are very important in the Caribbean and they reflect the rich cultural diversity and history of the region. What makes this place vibrant and wow-worthy is its multi-cultural vibe and lifestyle that combines cultural elements from Chinese, African, Indian and British influences, which can be easily spot during the celebratory dance routines. As well as the beautiful scenery, the Caribbean offers a huge range of accommodation types ensuring you'll find something that is tailor made for your needs. Whether you are looking for a family friendly place, a luxurious Caribbean resort located in an UNESCO world heritage site or a more adventurous experience on a budget. For the latter, the Tayrona National Natural Park in the Colombian northern Caribbean region rents hammocks in huts on the beach at San Juan del Cabo for around 1 pound a night. With its scintillating landscape, breathtaking locales, sandy beaches and dense rainforests, the Caribbean is easily one of the best vacation spots.

Extremely popular with both North Americans and Europeans during the winter months, the Caribbean is filled with islands and destinations that range from cheap and basic to posh and exclusive. By far the busiest destination in the Caribbean is Cancun. While it is not an island, Greater Cancun consists of Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya area as well as Cozumel, so it's a huge cluster of resort areas all served by one busy airport. With cheap flights from almost everywhere and hotels starting at very low prices, Cancun is one of the cheapest Caribbean destination and a great choice for the Spring Break crowd as well. Varadero is relatively cheap and good value for the Caribbean. Quality in its beachfront resort hotels is fairly high. Punta Cana has some modestly priced hotels that include breakfast, but it's much better known as the best and cheapest place for luxury all-inclusive resorts at amazing rates. There are really good air plus hotel packages available that can keep prices down and offer fantastic value for the Caribbean. Puerto Plata includes several clusters of resort beaches along the northern shore of the Dominican Republic. The hotels here are among the cheapest in the Caribbean, and this area is also known for very affordable all-inclusive packages even though flights to the nearby airport have augmented. Montego Bay is a very well developed and touristy area along Jamaica's north shore, with plenty of large all-inclusive resorts of different prices and quality and Jamaica's busiest airport closeby. Visitors can be checked-in sooner here than if they went to Negril or Ocho Rios nearby, but hotels can also be more expensive for that privilege. Negril, a 90-minute ride from Montego Bay Airport, has a beautiful west-facing beach and an abundance of cheap 2-star and 3-star hotels, making it one of the Caribbean's best value destinations. Samana has a few posh and expensive resorts, but it also has a nice mix of more affordable simple hotels near the beach. Thanks to some surprisingly cheap flights from New York, Curacao can be of excellent value for some travelers. Curacao has excellent diving and some of the cheapest hotels in the southern part of the Caribbean. It also has a large and busy airport which helps keep airfares reasonable from North America and several main European cities.

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.
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