A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Budapest vs. Grand Cayman for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Budapest or Grand Cayman?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Grand Cayman can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Budapest or Grand Cayman?

Budapest

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.

Grand Cayman

When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.


Which place is cheaper, Grand Cayman or Budapest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $91, while the average daily cost in Grand Cayman is $215. 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 Budapest and Grand Cayman in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Budapest $50
    Grand Cayman $150
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Budapest $100
    Grand Cayman $300
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Grand Cayman

Looking for a hotel in Budapest or Grand Cayman? 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 Budapest


Hotels in Grand Cayman


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: Budapest Hotel Prices and Grand Cayman Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Budapest $11
    Grand Cayman $31
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $7.05
  • Metro Pass
    $3.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest

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

  • Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $710
  • T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,603
  • Speed boat cruise on Budapest Danube river and private airport transfer package: $91
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $936
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $592
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,066
  • Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $474
  • Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
  • Private Transfer in Budapest: $76
  • Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing, Local Driver: $235
  • Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing: $217
  • Private Transfer from Budapest to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $74

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman

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

  • Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
  • George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
  • Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $54
  • George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $54
  • George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $54
  • Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $54
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Grand Cayman?

Prices for flights to both Grand Cayman and Budapest 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
    Budapest $23
    Grand Cayman $39
Typical Food Prices in Budapest

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


  • Lunch
    $3.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest

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

  • Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
  • Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
  • Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
  • Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
  • Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
  • Private Street Food Tour: $59
  • Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
  • Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
  • Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
  • Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
  • Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
  • Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Budapest $22
    Grand Cayman $41
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest

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


  • Entrance to the Baths for Two
    $6.91

Tours and Activities in Budapest

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

  • Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
  • Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
  • 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $186
  • 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
  • 2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour: $57
  • 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $39
  • 2 Hours Budapest Walking Tour with A Private Guide: $130
  • 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $50
  • 2-Hour Private Budapest Castle Walking Tour: $127
  • 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
  • 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
  • 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55

Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman

For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-stop Adventure: Stingray City and snorkeling at Cayman Reefs: $79
  • Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
  • Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
  • Cayman Classic Food Tasting Walking Tour Shore Excursion : $159
  • Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman Island: $126
  • Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
  • East End Activities and Tour in Grand Cayman: $158
  • East Island Tour : $298
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $278
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $264
  • Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
  • Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Budapest $18
    Grand Cayman $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest

Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
  • The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
  • Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
  • Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
  • Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
  • Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
  • Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
  • 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $39
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
  • Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
  • Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
  • Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50

Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:


  • Beer
    $4.97

Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman

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

  • Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Budapest and Grand Cayman, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Budapest is in Europe and Grand Cayman 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 Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Grand Cayman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Cayman than you might in Budapest.

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


Which is Bigger, Budapest or Grand Cayman?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Budapest and Grand Cayman, 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.


When is the best time to visit Budapest or Grand Cayman?

Budapest has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grand Cayman experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Budapest or Grand Cayman in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Grand Cayman. Many visitors come to Budapest in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Budapest is cooler than Grand Cayman. Typically, the summer temperatures in Budapest in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Grand Cayman averages at about 28°C (83°F).

Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Budapest usually receives less rain than Grand Cayman. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Budapest 21°C (70°F) 
    Grand Cayman 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Budapest or Grand Cayman in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Grand Cayman. Most visitors come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year.

In October, Budapest is generally much colder than Grand Cayman. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around 12°C (53°F), and Grand Cayman fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. Budapest usually gets less rain in October than Grand Cayman. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Budapest 12°C (53°F) 
    Grand Cayman 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Budapest or Grand Cayman in the Winter?

Both Grand Cayman and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Budapest because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The weather in Budapest can be very cold. Budapest is much colder than Grand Cayman in the winter. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around -1°C (31°F) in January, and Grand Cayman fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

In January, Budapest usually receives less rain than Grand Cayman. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Budapest -1°C (31°F) 
    Grand Cayman 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Budapest or Grand Cayman in the Spring?

Both Grand Cayman and Budapest during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Budapest this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.

In the spring, Budapest is much colder than Grand Cayman. Typically, the spring temperatures in Budapest in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Grand Cayman averages at about 26°C (79°F).

Budapest usually gets less rain in April than Grand Cayman. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Budapest 12°C (53°F) 
    Grand Cayman 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for Grand Cayman and Budapest

Budapest Grand Cayman
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -1°C (31°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 24°C (76°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Feb 2°C (35°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
May 16°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 131 mm (5.1 in)
Jun 20°C (67°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 28°C (83°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Aug 21°C (69°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 172 mm (6.8 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 212 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 12°C (53°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 238 mm (9.4 in)
Nov 6°C (42°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 141 mm (5.6 in)
Dec 1°C (34°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 25°C (78°F) 57 mm (2.3 in)