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

Should you visit Grand Cayman or Calgary?

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 Calgary. 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 Calgary?

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.

Calgary

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Calgary 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 Calgary is $154. 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 Calgary in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grand Cayman $150
    Calgary $73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grand Cayman $300
    Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and Calgary

Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman or Calgary? 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 Calgary


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 Calgary Hotel Prices.

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman

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

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:

  • Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Downtown - Calgary Airport (YYC): $91
  • Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary Downtown: $138
  • Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $91
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary Downtown: $121
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary: $181
  • Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $111
  • Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $119
  • Private Transfer from Calgary to Calgary Airport YYC in Luxury Van: $128
  • Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village : $60
  • Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Calgary Hotels: $63
  • Private Calgary to Banff One-way Transfer in Luxury Car: $296
  • Lake Louise: Calgary to Lake Louise Private Transfer 1 Way: $474

Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or Calgary?

Prices for flights to both Calgary 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
    Calgary $31

Typical Food Prices in Calgary

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:


  • Bread, Chips, Cheese
    $8.10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary

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

  • Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grand Cayman $41
    Calgary $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:

  • 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 Calgary

Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Stampede Admission (for 2)
    $22

Tours and Activities in Calgary

Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day Yoho Tour | Moraine Lake | Johnston Canyon | From Calgary: $118
  • 2 Days Jasper and Banff Tour from Calgary: $163
  • 2-Hour Private Walking Tour of Calgary's Highlights: $238
  • 2-Hour Scooter Tour of Calgary's City Highlights: $68
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour of Calgary, E-Bike Upgrade Options Available: $101
  • 3-Hour Street Art Tour of Calgary with Craft Beer Tastings: $101
  • 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.46
  • Banff Area & Johnston Canyon 1-Day Tour from Calgary or Banff: $119
  • Banff Deep 1 Day Tour in Banff National Park: $171
  • Banff, Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Tour from Calgary, Canmore: $96
  • Calgary City Sightseeing Tour: $162
  • Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grand Cayman $13
    Calgary $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

Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary

Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
  • Calgary Brewery Tour: $89


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

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 Calgary Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman and Calgary, 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.