Which place is cheaper, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Freeport?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Freeport or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Freeport and Carmel-by-the-Sea can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Freeport or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Freeport
When you picture the Bahamas you likely picture the beaches, resorts and playgrounds of Nassau. Just to the northwest of this tourist paradise is a tropical city founded on industry. Freeport began as mostly swampland and is now the second most populous city in the Bahamas.
This city is less of a tourist attraction - a place where you'll find the true Bahaman culture mixed in with some relaxing spots to help you unwind and get into your island vacation.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFreeport $244Carmel-by-the-Sea $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Freeport is $244, 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 Freeport and Carmel-by-the-Sea in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFreeport $141Carmel-by-the-Sea -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFreeport $282Carmel-by-the-Sea $0.00
Compare Hotels in Freeport and Carmel-by-the-Sea
Looking for a hotel in Freeport 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: Freeport Hotel Prices and Carmel-by-the-Sea Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Freeport $59Carmel-by-the-Sea $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Freeport
Also for Freeport, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Freeport Port to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO): $29
- Private Transfer from Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport Port: $29
- Roundtrip Airport Transfers Grand Lucayan Resort Freeport: $30
- Round-trip Airport Transfers to Castaway Resorts, Freeport: $30
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer Viva Club Fortuna Freeport: $30
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer Between Freeport Airport and Pelican Bay Resort : $30
- Freeport to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) Departure Private Transfer: $72
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport - Arrival Private Transfer: $72
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Freeport Airport to Hotel: $133
- Grand Bahama Airport: One-Way Transfer to Freeport Hotels: $139
- Grand Bahama Airport(FPO) to Freeport -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $144
- Shared Round Trip Limousine Transfer to the Port Lucaya Market: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Freeport or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Prices for flights to both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Freeport 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 dayFreeport $64Carmel-by-the-Sea $153
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Around Town/Bahamian Cooking Experience: $175
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Freeport $40Carmel-by-the-Sea -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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10 Dive Package$300
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4 Hr. Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Freeport
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Freeport.
- Tour of Coral Vita and breach brak at Banana bay beach club: $51
- Mamma Gal Native Experience : $70
- Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $82
- Mamma Gal East End Native Experience : $85
- Rumbo Tour : $90
- Clear Kayak Tour: $120
- Bahamas Sea Scooter Snorkeling Adventure: $120
- CocoNutz Cruisers Electric Bicycle Tour: $123
- East End Private Day Trip Experience Tour : $200
- Snorkel/Swim with the Turtles Experience: $250
- 4 Hour Private Sandy Cay Experience with Snorkeling - Adults Only: $275
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:
- 1-Hour Monterey and Cannery Row Sea Car Tour: $79
- 17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach’s Historical Highlights: $9.99
- 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour: $68
- 2-Hour Monterey and Pacific Grove Sea Car Tour: $149
- 2.5-Hour Electric Bike Tour Along 17 Mile Drive of Coastal Monterey: $65
- 3-Hour Monterey Bay Winter Whale-Watching Tour: $70
- 3-Hour Monterey, Cannery Row and Pacific Grove Sea Car Tour: $189
- Big Sur Self-Driving Audio Tour: Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway: $17
- Carmel Small Group Walking Food & Cultural Tour: $139
- Carmel by the Sea 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $20
- Carmel-By-The-Sea Electric Bike Guided Tour: $68
- Fairy Tale Houses Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFreeport $30Carmel-by-the-Sea -
Sample the Local Flavors in Freeport
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Freeport:
- Brewery & Taste with Beach & Shop at Largest Market on Freeport 4-hrs : $75
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 Freeport and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Freeport is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Freeport 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 Freeport would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Freeport 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 Freeport Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Freeport or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Freeport has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of Freeport and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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.