A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cabarete vs. Saint Thomas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cabarete or Saint Thomas?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or Saint Thomas, 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 Saint Thomas?

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.

Saint Thomas

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Cabarete?

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 Cabarete is $170, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cabarete $70
    Saint Thomas $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cabarete $140
    Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and Saint Thomas

Looking for a hotel in Cabarete or Saint Thomas? 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 Cabarete


Hotels in Saint Thomas


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 $39
    Saint Thomas $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete

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

  • Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
  • Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
  • Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $23

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $65
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas

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

  • Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
  • VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
  • Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $83
  • St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
  • St.Thomas island to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $135
  • St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $144
  • St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to The Ritz Carlton Resort: $144
  • ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $180
  • Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
  • Private Ground Transfers: $120
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
  • Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179

Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or Saint Thomas?

Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 day
    Cabarete $68
    Saint Thomas $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas

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

  • Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
  • St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
  • Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
  • Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
  • Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
  • Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
  • St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
  • Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
  • Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cabarete $50
    Saint Thomas $60

Tours and Activities in Cabarete

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

  • 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $130
  • 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
  • 4 Wheel Adventure: $128
  • 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
  • Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $60
  • Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
  • Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
  • Paradise Island Cruise Snorkeling Excursion: $95
  • Private tour: Dudu cenotes + Playa Grande Beach + much more: $220
  • Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
  • Scuba Diving tour in puerto plata Hotel/Cruise: $189
  • Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $81

Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas

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

  • Island Icons & Treasures Tour - St. Thomas USVI : $199
  • Magens Bay Trail Hiking Tour: $60
  • Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
  • Vi Top Taxi &Tours USVI-Coki Beach Snorkeling Tour : $68
  • 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
  • 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
  • 1.5 Hour Private Mini Jeep Tour on St. Thomas: $220
  • 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
  • Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
  • Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
  • Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
  • Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cabarete $16
    Saint Thomas $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Cabarete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cabarete or Saint Thomas?

Saint Thomas has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete and Saint Thomas, 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.

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