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.
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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.
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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $181Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $181, 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $74Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $148Saint 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $42Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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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 -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Vi Top Taxi - St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $180
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours - Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton: $180
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $81
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $96
- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Redhook Ferry: $180
- St.Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $267
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $180
- St. Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - Arrival Private Transfer: $133
- St. Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - Arrival Private Transfer: $96
- St Thomas Airport Private Transfers to Bouy haus: $135
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
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Food Meals for one dayCabarete $72Saint 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:
- St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $109
- 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
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to Lovango w/ Open Bar and Hors D'oeuvres: $139
- Flavors of St Thomas Walking Food Tour: $145
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $53Saint 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: Zip 'n Splash Adventure with Horse Ride: $125
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $127
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $108
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $35
- Excursions 3 in 1 Monkey Home Waterfalls And City Tours: $169
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Jamáo al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $250
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Private Deep-Sea Fishing Adventure in Puerto Plata: $759
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- 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
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Aerial Sightseeing Adventure!: $250
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $127
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Cas Cay - Kayak Hike and Snorkel Adventure: $79
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise from Sapphire Beach Resort: $130
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $169
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Tour: $159
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Da Conch Crawl- Walking Tour and Bar Crawl Downtown St. Thomas: $148
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.
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.