A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Grand Cayman vs. Antigua Guatemala for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Grand Cayman or Antigua Guatemala?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and Antigua Guatemala. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Grand Cayman or Antigua Guatemala?

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.

Antigua Guatemala

Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Grand Cayman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $63. 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 Grand Cayman and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grand Cayman $150
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grand Cayman $300
    Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Antigua Guatemala

Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Grand Cayman


Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


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: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grand Cayman $31
    Antigua Guatemala $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman

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

  • Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
  • George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
  • Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
  • Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
  • George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
  • George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
  • George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $53
  • Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • Transfer Guatemala City to Aurora to Antigua Guatemala: $130
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $27
  • Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $23
  • From Guatemala City: One-way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Antigua Guatemala?

Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Grand Cayman 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
    Grand Cayman $39
    Antigua Guatemala $14

Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.22
  • Lunch
    $7.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $69
  • Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $74
  • Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $75
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
  • Foodie & street food tour: $85
  • Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $95
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
  • From Guatemala City: Guatemala Cooking Class Tour: $110
  • Pacaya Volcano Luxury Sunset Horseback Riding Tour/ Dinner Cooked by-Lava Chef: $295

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grand Cayman $41
    Antigua Guatemala $15

Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman

For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
  • Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
  • Cayman Crystal Caves & Pedro St James Castle Tour in Grand Cayman: $179
  • Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman Island: $126
  • Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
  • East End Activities and Tour in Grand Cayman: $158
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $275
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $262
  • Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
  • Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
  • Grand Cayman Reef & Stingray City Snorkeling Adventure: $159
  • West Island Guided Tour with Entry Tickets: $120

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • ¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!: $100
  • 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
  • 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $110
  • 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $125
  • 2-Day Tour of Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenango Market: $220
  • ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $72
  • ATV or UTV Coffee Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $100
  • Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $116
  • Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hiking from Antigua - 2 Days Private Tour: $215
  • Acatenango Volcano Tour with Overnight from Antigua: $99
  • Acatenango Volcano Tour: 1 night in Glamping: $157
  • Adventure Tour Climbing the Pacaya Volcano with Pickup: $95

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grand Cayman $13
    Antigua Guatemala $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:


  • Beer
    $4.97

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Cayman and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Antigua Guatemala is in Central 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 Antigua Guatemala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala.

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


Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Antigua Guatemala?

Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Antigua Guatemala, 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.