A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bruges vs. Bonaire for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bruges or Bonaire?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bruges and Bonaire. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Bruges or Bonaire?

Bruges

Located in the northern part of Belgium, in Flanders, Bruges is one of the most charming and well preserved cities in Europe. With its stone streets and charming shops, it is a postcard perfect city that seems to have jumped out of the pages of a Disney fairytale. The city itself is quite compact, adding to the charm and making it easily walkable. Even given its old world charm, it manages to present a cosmopolitan air as well. There's an active nightlife, but during the day the historical city center is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. You can take a carriage ride through the cobblestone streets or you can wander around on your own. Be sure to swing into some of the museums, cathedrals, and churches you'll see along the way. There are now shops everywhere that are designed to appeal to tourists. While some may be easy to walk by, it takes the strongest souls to ignore the chocolate shops you'll see on your way.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Belgium, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belgium.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Bruges?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bruges is $183, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bruges and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bruges $67
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bruges $134
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Bruges and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Bruges or Bonaire? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bruges


Hotels in Bonaire


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bruges Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bruges $19
    Bonaire $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bruges

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Bruges:


  • Five Day Bus Pass
    $17
  • Bike Rental for Day
    $9.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bruges

Also for Bruges, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ostend Airport (OST) to Bruges hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
  • Bruges to Ostend Bruges Airport(OST) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
  • Private Transfer from Zeebrugge Cruise Port to Bruges hotels: $72
  • Private Transfer from Bruges City Hotels to Zeebrugge Cruise Port: $72
  • Ostend Airport (OST) to Bruges hotel - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $137
  • Private transfer from Bruges to Lille, English-speaking driver: $143
  • Private Transfer from Bruges to Brussels By Business car: $159
  • Private direct transfer from Cruise Port Zeebrugge to Brussels: $183
  • Bruges to Brussels Private One-Way Direct Custom Transfer Service: $189
  • PrivateTransfer from Zeebrugge Port to Ostend Bruges Airport(OST): $229
  • Private Transfer from Zeebrugge Cruise Port to Brussels hotels: $235
  • Private Transfert from Bruges to Brussels Airport By Business car: $252

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
  • Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Bruges or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Bruges change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bruges $102
    Bonaire $101
Typical Food Prices in Bruges

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bruges:


  • Cup of Tea
    $2.28
  • Sandwich for Lunch
    $3.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bruges

For Bruges, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bruges Food Tour : Beer, Chocolate, Waffles & Fries in German: $143
  • Bruges Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $148
  • The 10 Tastings of Bruges With Locals: Private Food Tour: $155
  • Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $162
  • Private Bruges Food Tour: 8 Tastings of Local Delicacies: $171

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.

  • Dinner at Sea: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bruges $17
    Bonaire $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bruges

For Bruges, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Groeninge Museum Entrance
    $9.11

Tours and Activities in Bruges

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bruges.

  • THE Storytelling Tour of Bruges | First Day Must | History & Tips: $3.42
  • Gastronomic Tour: A Taste of Bruges: $3.42
  • Evening Tour: The Dark Side of Bruges: $3.42
  • Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Bruges: $3.42
  • 2-Hour Bruges Walking Tour with Chocolate Tasting: $3.42
  • Secrets of Walking Tour With a Chocolate and Waffle Bite: $3.44
  • Walking Tour Bruges in German: $3.44
  • Bruges Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.55
  • Self Guided Podcast Tour Bruges and the Hanseatic Hub: $5.49
  • Bruges Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.73
  • Bruges Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
  • Essential Witches : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $6.01

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:

  • 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • 4 hour Individual Island Tour for 1 to 12 persons: $180
  • Aquaspace Sunset Sail and Snorkel Tour on Bonaire with Diner: $135
  • Bonaire Cave Tour: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
  • Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
  • Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
  • Bonaire island adventure: $110
  • Brunch & Snorkel Catamaran Tour: $115
  • Catamaran Snorkel & BBQ Sail (cruise friendly): $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bruges $13
    Bonaire $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Bruges

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bruges:

  • Bruges Brewery & Distillery – Discover at Your Own Pace (+1drink): $18
  • Bourgogne des Flandres Brewery and Distillery Visit: $19
  • Private: Discover Bruges beers & brewery with chocolate pairing by a young local: $298


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bruges and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Bruges much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bruges is in Europe and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bruges would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bruges and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Bruges.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bruges Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bruges or Bonaire?

Bruges has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Bruges and Bonaire, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.