Which place is cheaper, Grand Cayman or Cancun?
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 Cancun 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 Cancun and Grand Cayman can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Grand Cayman?
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesGrand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $161Grand Cayman $242
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $161, while the average daily cost in Grand Cayman is $242. 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 Cancun and Grand Cayman in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $93Grand Cayman $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $186Grand Cayman $298
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Grand Cayman
Looking for a hotel in Cancun 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.
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: Cancun Hotel Prices and Grand Cayman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $17Grand Cayman $31
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.60
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $97
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $125
- Transfer priv. Cancun Airport to Costa Mujeres / Playa Mujeres: $90
- Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $95
- Transfer hotel Cancun to Cancun Airport up to 8 people: $40
- Transfer from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: $129
- Transfer from Cancun Airport to Carmen Beach and Tulum: $82
- Transfer Redondo Private Airport Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $175
- Transfer Private Airport International CUN - Cáncun: $76
- Transfer Airport-Hotel ( One Way ) Apto Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $87
- Transfer Airport To Excellence Finest Atelier Playa Mujeres: $79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town-Arrival Private Transfer: $148
- Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) to George Town Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $148
- Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) to George Town - Round-Trip Transfer: $297
- Airport Transfers to East End Accommodations (GCM) - Round Trip: $239
- Airport Transfer to West Bay Accommodations (GCM)-Round Trip: $88
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Grand Cayman?
Prices for flights to both Grand Cayman and Cancun 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 dayCancun $47Grand Cayman $67
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruising Experience: $53
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour: Market 23, Local Flavors & Downtown Culture: $69
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $81
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $34Grand Cayman $41
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.57
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$97
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour to Bacalar, Cenotes and 7 color Lagoon with lunch from Cancun: $125
- 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $119
- 1-hour Clear Boat Tour in Nichupte Lagoon from Cancun: $22
- 2 Islands Tour - Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen: $160
- 2 in 1 Catamaran to Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun with Open Bar: $50
- 2 in 1 Parasailing and Jet Sky Tour in Cancun: $140
- 2-Day Deluxe Tour: Tulum and Chichén Itzá: $120
- 20 minutes Jet Pack flight experience in Cancun!: $119
- 2x1 Tulum tour and Chichen Itza tour for 1 price in 2 days: $139
- 3 Hidden Cenotes Experience & Puerto Morelos Reef Snorkeling: $89
- 3 adrenaline activities Atvs Zipline and a swim experience in a cenote: $60
- 3 in 1 Jungle Tour Adventure Cancun: $69
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: $109
- 3 Stop Boat Tour Stingray City Coral Gardens and Starfish Point: $65
- 3-Stop Stingray City, Reef Snorkel & Starfish Point Tour: $79
- 4 Stops Tour: Stingray, Snorkeling, Starfish & 7 Mile Beach: $60
- Bioluminescent Bay Adventure in Grand Cayman: $139
- Bling and Beverages Cayman Jewelry Shopping Experience: $22
- Cayman 3 in 1 Combo Adventure Stingray City Reef Snorkeling: $115
- Cayman Adventure Stingrays Starfish plus Crystal Caves: $99
- Cayman Best Stingray City Reef Snorkel and Starfish Point Tour: $63
- Cayman Bioluminescent Bay Night Tour: $154
- Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman: $143
- Cayman Ultimate Tour: Stingray City, Snorkeling & Beach Lunch: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $13Grand Cayman $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A bespoke wine tastings crafted for unforgettable moments: $85
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.95
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
- Taste of Cayman Distillery Experience: $75
- Distillery Tour with Gin Tasting: $75
- Cayman Art and Wine Tour: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Grand Cayman, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America 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 Cancun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cancun 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 Cancun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Grand Cayman Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Grand Cayman?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Cancun 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.
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.