Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Cabarete?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cabarete or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or Roatan, 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
-
Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $181Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $181, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $74Roatan $10
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $148Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete or Roatan? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $42Roatan $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $44
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $58
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
-
Water Taxi$3.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
- Scuba Dive in the West End of Roatan with Private Transfer: $155
- Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $128
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $152
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $112
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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
-
Food Meals for one dayCabarete $72Roatan $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $53Roatan $25
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $45
- Surfing Experience in Cabarete Dominican Republic: $60
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure from Puerto Plata: $75
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $80
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Jamao al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $80
- VIP All-Inclusive City Tour: Luxury Beach Experience: $85
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $120
- Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
- ATV & community adventure, Mangrove tour, food tasting and Beach: $139
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $99
- ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
- Beer and Food Tasting Experience at Roatan Island Brewing Company: $100
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Cruise Travelers West Bay Beach Break with Island Tour in Roatan: $50
- Custom Private Roatan Shuttle Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace: $30
- Custom Roatan Cruise Excursion and Island Tour: $55
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17Roatan $6.53
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and Roatan, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cabarete is in Caribbean Islands and Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Cabarete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabarete than you might in Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabarete Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabarete or Roatan?
Roatan has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete and Roatan, 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.