A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chicago vs. Bonaire for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chicago or Bonaire?

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 Chicago and Bonaire can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Chicago or Bonaire?

Chicago

Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Chicago?

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 Chicago is $323, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $299. 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 Chicago and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chicago $198
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chicago $396
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Chicago and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Chicago or Bonaire? 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 Chicago


Hotels in Bonaire


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: Chicago Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chicago $37
    Bonaire $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chicago

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:


  • Parking
    $19
  • Taxi Ride
    $10
  • Taxi from Airport
    $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:

  • Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
  • ORD Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $40
  • Private Airport Transfer to/from ORD Airport: $43
  • Private Transfer ORD Airport to Chicago / Milwaukee / Oak Brook: $46
  • Private Transfer Chicago Airport MDW to Chicago Downtown: $50
  • Midway Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $55
  • Ohare Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $75
  • Chicago to Chicago Airport (MDW) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
  • Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) to Chicago hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
  • Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) - Departure Private Car Transfer: $75
  • Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $77
  • Chicago O'Hare International Airport private transfer, pick up: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $80
  • Private Transfers between Bonaire airport and any local address: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Chicago or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Chicago 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
    Chicago $85
    Bonaire $101
Typical Food Prices in Chicago

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:


  • Dinner for 1
    $24
  • Dinner for 3
    $118

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.

  • Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class: $59
  • Tamales and Tacos with Margarita Cooking Class at Su Casa: $59
  • Pizza Walking or Bus Tour: $59
  • Deep Dish Cooking Class at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago: $59
  • City Cruises Lake Michigan Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $63
  • Downtown Chicago Walking Pizza Tour: $69
  • Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $73
  • City Cruises Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner River Cruise: $74
  • Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
  • Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
  • Immersive Potsticker Cooking Class in Chicago: $75
  • Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bonaire

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bonaire.

  • Dinner at Sea: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chicago $47
    Bonaire $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chicago

Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Sears Tower (family of 4)
    $102
  • Aquarium for 4
    $118
  • Water Taxi (family of 4)
    $22
  • IMAX Movie for Two
    $35
  • Shakespeare Play (2)
    $116
  • Art Institute (2)
    $36
  • U-Boat Tour (2)
    $8.00

Tours and Activities in Chicago

Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Discover A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.55
  • Hyde Park Walking Tour History Race and Urban Change: $5.00
  • Bucktown and Wicker Park’s 606 Trail: A Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Chicago Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Chicago Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 25 Audio Commentaries: $7.00
  • Chicago Art Heist: Millennium Park Puzzle Adventure: $7.47
  • Lincoln Park Zoo Adventure: $8.00
  • Chicago Chinatown: Dragon Kings Puzzle Adventure: $8.30
  • Chicago’s Millennium Park Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Chicago Haunted Ghost Tour GPS Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Bizarre Wicker Park: Medicine and Mobsters Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:

  • Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
  • Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Walking Tour with Lunch & Ice Cream: $55
  • Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
  • Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
  • Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
  • Tour in North and South Bonaire Guided: $63
  • Explore North & South Tour: $65
  • Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chicago $25
    Bonaire $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:

  • Astounding Chicago Bar Crawl: Chi-Town Showdown: $15
  • Rising Stars Burlesque Revue Tickets in Chicago: $30
  • Burlesque Peep Show Ticket in Chicago: $32
  • Burning Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • Chicago Local Brewery Expedition with Homemade Guacamole: $63
  • Chicago Local Brewery Expedition with Homemade Guacamole: $63
  • Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour: $100
  • Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
  • Chicago to Milwaukee: 1-Day City Highlights w/Miller Brewery: $125


When comparing the travel costs between Chicago and Bonaire, we can see that Chicago is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Chicago is in North America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chicago Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chicago or Bonaire?

Chicago has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Chicago and Bonaire, 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.