Which place is cheaper, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Eagle Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Eagle Beach or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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: Eagle Beach or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
A small, beach town on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its idyllic natural scenery and artistic history. Carmel's village, just one square mile in size, is unlike any other in California with its picturesque views, European style and unusual laws.
Clint Eastwood served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-88. Without a single fast food or chain restaurants, visitors can easily feel that Carmel still preserves its slow and easy lifestyle, with all private-owned restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. This town is undoubtedly charming, even with its anti-high heel laws (though they aren't strictly enforced and permits are free at the City Hall), lack of street addresses and has been named the top destination for dog-friendly towns in the country. Grab your furry friends, leave your heels at home and get ready to explore this quaint and lovely town by the sea.
If you want to avoid the heat, Carmel is the perfect place to go, with year-round mild temperatures. Even during the summer seasons, you may not feel the heat through the fog and cool coastal weather. Peak seasons for travel are during summer months in August and September, (especially popular for weddings) and even then, the highs are still in the low 70s. Winter season lows dip only down to low 50s, with the Pacific Oceans maintaining moderate temperatures.
If you're driving to the city, keep in mind that the businesses do not have numbers in their addresses. To get directions or arrange a meeting, be sure to remember the name of the business and grab a map from the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.
Some famous artists who have resided in Carmel are Upton Sinclair, Jack London and Mary Austin. Carmel is known to be particularly dog-friendly, as almost all hotels allow guests to bring their dogs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEagle Beach $341Carmel-by-the-Sea $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Eagle Beach is $341, while the average daily cost in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $0.00. 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 Eagle Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEagle Beach $227Carmel-by-the-Sea -
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEagle Beach $454Carmel-by-the-Sea $0.00
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea
Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach or Carmel-by-the-Sea? 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: Carmel-by-the-Sea Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eagle Beach $33Carmel-by-the-Sea $125
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
-
Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.22
-
One Day Scooter Rental$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Transfer: $22
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
- Aruba Private Airport Transfer: Personalized Arrival: $31
- Private One-way Transfer Reina Beatrix Airport To Aruba: $32
- Private One-Way Transfer from Aruba To Reina Beatrix Airport: $32
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Queen Airport to Oranjestad Port: $36
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Port to Oranjestad Queen Airport: $36
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Cruise Port to Oranjestad city: $36
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) - Departure Transfer: $39
- Aruba Queen Beatrix Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island-Arrival Transfer: $39
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) Departure Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer from Reina Beatrix Airport to Oranjestad Aruba: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Eagle Beach or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Prices for flights to both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Eagle Beach 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 dayEagle Beach $68Carmel-by-the-Sea $153
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $93
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Thai Cooking Class in Monterey: $99
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eagle Beach $121Carmel-by-the-Sea -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Full Day Bike Rental$25
-
Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$98
-
Horseback Riding Tour$70
-
4 Hr Snorkel Trip$74
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Aruba: $5.00
- Aruba Mangel Halto and Baby Beach Snorkeling Guided Tour: $37
- Scenic Aruba Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $40
- Aruba Downtown Historic and Cultural Walking Tour: $40
- Explore Aruba Party Bus Tour: $41
- Aruba Countryside Tour: $41
- Half-Day Aruba Animal Sanctuary Guided Tour : $45
- Half-Day Aruba Island Tour from Oranjestad: $49
- Aruba Baby Beach Express Tour: $49
- Colorful Beach Bus Sightseeing Tour of Aruba: $54
- Aruba Jet Ski Rentals — Exciting Water Adventures Await: $58
- Aruba Sunset Sail Cruise aboard The Dolphin Catamaran: $59
Tours and Activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Carmel-by-the-Sea are as follows:
- Fairy Tale Houses Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between San Francisco & Monterey: $7.99
- Carmel-by-the-Sea's Fairytale Houses: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Off the Beaten Path in A Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Historic Cannery Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of John Steinbeck's Monterey: $7.99
- 17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach’s Historical Highlights: $9.99
- Discover Enchanted Cottages: A Carmel-by-the-Sea Audio Tour: $11
- Scenic 17-Mile Drive Tour - Self Drive Audio Guide from Monterey & Carmel: $15
- Point Lobos - A Private Charming Ocean Tour: $15
- Big Sur Self-Driving Audio Tour: Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway: $17
- Monterey: Ocean Paradise, Trolley and Walking Tour: $20
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayEagle Beach $31Carmel-by-the-Sea -
Sample the Local Flavors in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Carmel-by-the-Sea:
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea: $149
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea: $149
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eagle Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands and Carmel-by-the-Sea is in North America, 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eagle Beach Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.
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.