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

Should you visit Cozumel 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 Cozumel and Bonaire can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cozumel or Bonaire?

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Cozumel?

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 Cozumel is $130, 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 Cozumel and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cozumel $67
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cozumel $134
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Cozumel 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 Cozumel


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: Cozumel Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cozumel $22
    Bonaire $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

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

  • Cozumel Airport to Hotel Private Transfer by Car: $24
  • Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $30
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $49
  • Atv Jungle Ride sin transfer: $49
  • Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
  • Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $65
  • Private Transfer from Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel hotels: $75
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
  • Cozumel Island hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $75
  • Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $75

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 Cozumel or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Cozumel 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
    Cozumel $40
    Bonaire $101

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

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

  • Private Mexican Trompitos Cooking Class in Cozumel: $89
  • Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day: $89
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90

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.
    Cozumel $43
    Bonaire $40

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

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

  • Cozumel Historic Waterfront Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
  • Tequila History and Tasting Experience and Unlimited Beach Break: $25
  • Chankanaab Experience from Snack Bar Lindas: $27
  • El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
  • Clear Boat Adventure and Snorkeling Tour Underwater World: $28
  • Snorkel into Heaven Palancar Columbia and El Cielo Experience: $29
  • Cozumel's Reefs in El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia Guided Tour: $29
  • Transparent Boat Experience Cozumel & Snorkeling on Colorful Reef: $29
  • Cozumel’s Mayan Journey: Dance, Rituals, and Tasting Tour: $29
  • Cozumel Snorkel Tour to El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia: $29

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

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

  • 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • 4 hour Individual Island Tour for 1 to 12 persons: $180
  • Aquaspace Sunset Sail and Snorkel Tour on Bonaire with Diner: $130
  • Bonaire Cave Tour: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
  • Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
  • Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
  • Bonaire island adventure: $110
  • Brunch & Snorkel Catamaran Tour: $115
  • Catamaran Snorkel & BBQ Sail (cruise friendly): $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cozumel $11
    Bonaire $33

Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:

  • Cozumel Downtown & Brewery: $69
  • Downtown Cozumel & Brewery: $79
  • Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $89
  • Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery: $99
  • Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery: $109
  • Cozumel Rum Tasting & Distillery Experience: $119


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cozumel and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Cozumel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North America and Bonaire 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 Cozumel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cozumel 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Cozumel.

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


Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Bonaire?

Cozumel has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bonaire. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel 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.