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

Should you visit Grand Cayman or Banff?

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 Banff. 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 Banff?

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.

Banff

Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Banff 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 Banff is $84. 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 Banff in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grand Cayman $150
    Banff $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grand Cayman $300
    Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Banff

Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Banff? 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 Banff


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 Banff Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grand Cayman $31
    Banff $5.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman

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

  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
  • Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
  • George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $53
  • George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
  • Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53
  • Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
  • George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
  • Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
  • George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
  • Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234
  • Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
  • From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
  • Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876

Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Banff?

Prices for flights to both Banff 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
    Banff $29

Typical Food Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:


  • Tea House Lunch for Two
    $33
  • Hostel Breakfast
    $27
  • McDonalds
    $4.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff

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

  • Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grand Cayman $41
    Banff $12

Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman

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

  • West Bay Sightseeing Tour Plus Seven Mile Beach Visit: $45
  • Reagan’s Honey Beekeeping Adventure: $67
  • Stingraycity Adventure: $69
  • Starfish and Stingray City Fun Tour with Reef Snorkeling- 3 stops: $69
  • Stingray City Experience Plus One Snorkeling Stop: $69
  • Stingray City Sandbar, Coral Gardens and 7-Mile Beach Tour: $70
  • Stingray City Experience Plus Two Snorkeling Stops on Grand Cayman: $75
  • Stingrays, Starfish and Snorkeling Tour: $75
  • 2-stop Adventure: Stingray City and snorkeling at Cayman Reefs: $79
  • Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
  • Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
  • Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99

Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:


  • Hot Springs
    $5.31

Tours and Activities in Banff

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

  • Banff National Park Big Canoe Tour: $56
  • Skybridge Adventure Golden BC from Canmore & Banff: $165
  • 2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure: $144
  • 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park with Hotels: $2,595
  • 4 Days Tour to Banff & Jasper National Park without Hotels: $1,462
  • BANFF EVENING eBIKE WILDLIFE TOUR: $74
  • Banff : Day Tour : Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake: $186
  • Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure: $74
  • Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
  • Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: $84
  • Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour: $53
  • Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grand Cayman $13
    Banff $9.34
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 Banff, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands and Banff 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 Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Banff.

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 Banff Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Banff?

Grand Cayman has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Banff, 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.