Which place is cheaper, Key West or Cabarete?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cabarete or Key West?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or Key West, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cabarete or Key West?
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesKey West Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $179Key West $832
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $179, while the average daily cost in Key West is $832. 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 Cabarete and Key West in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $73Key West $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $146Key West $264
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and Key West
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete or Key West? 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.
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: Cabarete Hotel Prices and Key West Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $41Key West $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Puerto Plata Airport to Sosua: $13
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua : $30
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
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Rental Car for One Day$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Key West Airport EYW: $144
- One Way Airport Transfer Service: $54
- Key West to Key West Airport (EYW) - Departure Private Transfer: $156
- Key West Int Airport EYW to Key West Hotels Arrival Transfer: $149
- Key West Int Airport (EYW) to Key West - Arrival Private Transfer: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or Key West?
Prices for flights to both Key West and Cabarete 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
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Food Meals for one dayCabarete $71Key West $667
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
- Exploring and Walking Food Tour of Cayo Hueso: $80
- Cooking School Demonstration with Meal: $81
- Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours: $90
- Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included: $93
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music: $93
- Key West Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise with Open Bar and Live Music: $100
- Secret Walking Food Tour: $114
- Sunset Sail Full Bar, Live Music & Dinner & Early Morning Snorkeling: $160
- Key West Fishing Charter: Catch your Dinner!: $800
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $52Key West $33
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure from Puerto Plata: $75
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $78
- 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Two-hour adventure on a TUBING along the Yasica River.: $95
- Puerto Plata City Tour with Lunch on the Beach: $95
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $123
- Monkey Enconter & Zip line Adventure: $125
- Super Buggy Tour in Puerto Plata Shore/hotel + Lunch: $169
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
- Key West Kayak Eco Tour | An Eco-Friendly Adventure Awaits!: $60
- Southernmost Ghosts Tour: $32
- 2 Hour Key West Mini Catamaran Eco Tour: $285
- 2-Hour Live Music Guided Tour in Key West: $35
- A Self-Guided Tour of Key West's Legends and Sights: $30
- Adults only Sunset Cruise from Key West with Champagne: $109
- All Inclusive Sandbar Trip With Hidden Kayak Tour, Food & Drinks: $150
- Bahama Village Walking Tour: $30
- Day Sailing Adventure in the Florida Marine Sanctuary: $99
- Day in Key West - Private SUV Tour From Miami: $1,040
- Dinghy Drinking Tour through Key West Waters: $85
- Experience Key West Food Walking Tour: $113
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17Key West $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour with Free T-Shirt: $32
- Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- 2.5-Hour Duval Street Pub Crawl: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and Key West, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is Cabarete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cabarete is in Caribbean Islands and Key West is in North America, 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 Cabarete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cabarete 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in Cabarete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabarete Expensive? and Is Key West Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabarete or Key West?
Key West has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete and Key West, 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.
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.